First Commercial Scale Waste to Energy Plant in Middle East Launched

/ Renewables / Tuesday, 24 May 2022 13:45

The Emirates Waste to Energy company, a joint venture between BEEAH, the Middle East’s sustainability pioneer, and Masdar, one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies, has announced the inauguration of the Sharjah Waste to Energy plant, the first commercial scale plant of its kind in the Middle East.

The Sharjah Waste to Energy plant, first announced in 2018, will divert up to 300,000 tonnes of waste away from landfills each year, advancing the UAE’s goals for waste management and landfill diversion. The plant will enable Sharjah to increase its current landfill diversion rate from 76%  to 100%, making it the Middle East’s first zero-waste city. If adopted elsewhere, it will also help reduce waste sent to landfills across the UAE.

The project will also displace nearly 450,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, advancing the UAE’s strategic initiative to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.  The combusted waste will produce 30 megawatts (MW) of low-carbon electricity, enough to power 28,000 homes in Sharjah, and save 45 million m3 of natural gas per year.

The inauguration event was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who officially opened the plant. The event was attended by H.E. Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar, H.E Salim bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of BEEAH Group, Masdar Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, BEEAH Group Chief Executive Officer Khaled Al Huraimel, and other industry and government leaders.

H.E. Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said, “The deployment of the first commercial scale waste to energy plant in the Middle East represents a landmark achievement in the UAE’s sustainable economic growth trajectory. By turning waste into energy, this new plant exemplifies the economic benefits of sustainable energy production and a low carbon development pathway.”

Meanwhile, H.E Salim bin Mohammed Al Owais said, “This waste-to-energy plant highlights an important next chapter for the UAE and the emirate of Sharjah, which came as a result of the innovative BEEAH-Masdar partnership.”  

Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi said, “The Sharjah Waste to Energy plant will not only support the UAE’s net-zero emissions objective, it also addresses the vital issue of waste management – a major problem for many cities in the GCC. “

While producing energy from unrecyclable waste, the Sharjah Waste to Energy plant also has systems to improve energy efficiency and reduce water consumption. The plant follows the European Union’s Best Available Techniques to align with the strictest environmental standards globally.

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