Pyrolysis & gasification - Increased potential for value recovery from ELVs?

You are here: Homepage > Search

Pyrolysis & gasification - Increased potential for value recovery from ELVs?

Heermann, C.

Novel processes utilising pyrolysis and gasification have attracted publicity as a potential alternative to incineration technologies for the conversion of waste into energy. In considering the contribution these technologies could make to value recovery form ELV we have provided a brief overview of the technical progress and market developments that have led to the current market position of pyrolysis and gasification systems today. We can conclude that due to the output flexibility, as well as the changing market conditions and perspective of industrial users in regard to integrated 'Waste and Energy concepts', pyrolysis and gasification systems have the potential to recover value form ELVs and therefore support automotive OEMs in meeting their recycling and recovery targets. The comparison also under lines this possible role for pyrolysis and gasification. However, today this approach to EOL residues is insufficiently prover in Europe. In our view this is mainly due to commercial rather than technical issues, as the technology is proven in Japan and there are minimal differences in the composition of ASR in Europe and Japan. Today, Pyrolysis and Gasification are not 'off-the-shelf' solutions, but should not be ruled out, as potentially attractive novel approaches because their potential in terms of value recovery in an integrated 'Waste and Energie' concept could prove to be the most economic and sustainable solution for future projects. We except, the new End-of-Life Producer Responsibility Obligations and the renewed interest in clean and efficient energy production to lead to new interest and more experience in this area. More and more technology developers are focusing their efforts to optimise their systems for recycling residues as desirable input for their processes.