Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
Energy recycling is the energy recovery process of using energy that would normally be wasted, usually by converting it into electricity or thermal energy.Undertaken at manufacturing facilities, power plants, and large institutions such as hospitals and universities, it significantly increases efficiency, thereby reducing energy costs and greenhouse gas pollution simultaneously.
The amount of energy saved through recycling depends upon the material being recycled and the type of energy accounting that is used. Correct accounting for this saved energy can be accomplished with life-cycle analysis using real energy values, and in addition, exergy, which is a measure of how much useful energy can be used. In general, it ...
Incineration, the combustion of organic material such as waste with energy recovery, is the most common WtE implementation. All new WtE plants in OECD countries incinerating waste (residual MSW, commercial, industrial or RDF) must meet strict emission standards, including those on nitrogen oxides (NO x), sulphur dioxide (SO 2), heavy metals and dioxins.
It involves re-melting the metal, which is cheaper and more energy-efficient than the production of virgin aluminium by electrolysis of alumina (Al 2 O 3) refined from raw bauxite by use of the Bayer and Hall–Héroult processes. Recycling scrap aluminium requires only 5% of the energy used to make new aluminium from the raw ore. [2]
The typical plant with a capacity of 400 GWh energy production annually costs about 440 million dollars to build. Waste-to-energy plants may have a significant cost advantage over traditional power options, as the waste-to-energy operator may receive revenue for receiving waste as an alternative to the cost of disposing of waste in a landfill, typically referred to as a "tipping fee" per ton ...
These studies suggest that about 200,000 megawatts, or 20%, of total power capacity could come from energy recycling in the U.S. Widespread use of energy recycling could therefore reduce global warming emissions by an estimated 20 percent. [10]
The steel industry saves enough energy to power about 18 million households for a year, on a yearly basis. [6] Recycling metal also uses about 74 percent less energy than making metal. Thus, recyclers of end-of-life vehicles save an estimated 85 million barrels of oil annually that would have been used in the manufacturing of other parts. [3]
Energy consumption is reduced by recycling, [12] although there is debate concerning the actual energy savings realized. The Energy Information Administration claims a 40% reduction in energy when paper is recycled versus paper made with unrecycled pulp, [13] while the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) claims a 64% reduction. [14]