Largest of its kind waste-to-energy facility in Dubai
One of the world’s largest waste-to-energy facilities is coming to life in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and is one of the most significant renewable energy investments in the UAE. The USD 1 billion facility contributes to reaching the goals set by Dubai Municipality in minimising the volume of municipal waste in landfills and developing alternative energy sources. It also contributes to UAE ambitions of reaching 75% clean energy and reducing the country’s carbon footprint by 70% by 2050.
With the capacity to process up to 45% of Dubai’s current municipal waste, the facility converts 1.9 million tonnes of waste annually into approximately 200 MW of electricity – enough to provide energy for more than 120,000 households.
As the Owner’s Engineer, Ramboll reviews the EPC (Engineering, Procurement & Construction) contractor’s activities, on behalf of the client, the Warsan Waste Management Company (WWMC). This includes design reviews and inspections during manufacturing and construction. Moreover, Ramboll oversees testing and commissioning of the facility and the transfer to commercial operations.
All the water used in the project, about 1,200 cubic metres per day, is upgraded from the treated sewage effluent of the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Warsan close to the waste-to-energy facility. Of the 200 MW electrical power produced at the facility, 35 MW are used to operate the Warsan Wastewater Treatment Plant and 20 MW are used to operate the waste-to-energy facility. The rest is fed into the local grid.
The waste-to-energy facility receives 1,000 truckloads of municipal waste per day, processing waste from 88 trucks per hour. The facility has five waste-to-energy lines to ensure the thermal treatment of 5,666 tonnes of waste per day. The incinerated waste produces 1,000 tonnes of bottom ash daily, which will be recycled and used in various infrastructure projects. All five lines are currently fully operational, and commercial operation is expected in the summer of 2024.
The facility will be operated under a 35-year concession agreement between Dubai Municipality and WWMC.