Task 36: Material and Energy Valorisation of Waste in a Circular Economy

Objective

Definition and Objective

(a) Definitions

Circular Economy “is a system where materials never become waste and nature is regenerated. In a circular economy, products and materials are kept in circulation through processes like maintenance, reuse, refurbishment, remanufacture, recycling, and composting. The circular economy tackles climate change and other global challenges, like biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution, by decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources” (Ellen Mac Arthur Foundation)

Valorization of waste is a process of reusing or recycling waste streams. It sees waste as a resource that can be converted into products such as fuel, chemicals, energy sources or useful materials. The goal is to give economic value to waste while keeping resources in the loop.

Waste-to-energy is a number of technological pathways (i.e. incineration, gasification, pyrolysis, anaerobic digestion) that extract the energy contained in waste/feedstock and convert it into electricity, heat or fuels, contributing to a circular economy.  In addition to energy products, other products can be obtained (i.e. biochar, fertilizers) depending on the technology.

(b) Objective

The objective of Task 36 is to collect, analyse, share, and disseminate best practice technical and strategic non-technical information on the material and energy valorisation of waste in a circular economy. This includes the valorisation of the biomass/biogenic fraction of waste into different bioenergy products (heat, power cooling, liquid and gaseous biofuels) but also the possibility of producing renewable chemicals.

Scope of the Task

a. The Participants will have R&D programmes within their countries in order to meet the above objectives.

The Participants will carry out co-operative research work towards reaching the objectives described in paragraph 1(b) above, based on the national R&D programme referred to in sub-paragraph (a) above.

b. The Programme of Work will comprise:

I) Major topics to be addressed

1. 1. 1. Waste Management System Analyses
         1. Policy analysis: Food waste
         2. Advanced sorting technologies: Food waste recovery and decentralized solutions
         3. Social Impact and benefits from using biowaste in bioenergy production
      2. Feedstock
         1. Opportunities for valorization of biodegradable organic waste
         2. Expanding the resource base for energy and material production
      3. New Technology Pathways
         1. The potential of Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCUS) from Waste-to-Energy
         2. Energy transition in emerging economies: India

II)  Deliverables:

1. 1. 1. 1. Information exchange between country members
         2. Technical reports and case study compilations
         3. Participation in two Inter-task projects: carbon management and resource handling.
         4. Three workshops/webinars with stakeholders
         5. Task 36 newsletter

III) Information exchange with other IEA IA’s, other IEA Bioenergy Tasks and other international networks on thermal biomass conversion worldwide

IV) ExCo interaction and support.

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