Turning Waste Into Energy

What is WTE?  Waste to Energy.  The expression “one man’s trash is another’s treasure’’ has real-world meaning when considering the burgeoning field of waste-to-energy (WTE) technologies that convert municipal solid waste (MSW) into heat and energy, through a series of complex processes. The Environmental Protection Agency says in 2015, more than 262 million tons of solid waste were produced in the United States.^[1] The largest percentage of that was paper or paperboard products, accounting for nearly 26 million tons. Another 34.5 million tons were plastic. The World Economic Forum says 90 percent of the world’s plastic ends up in oceans, harming mammals, fish and birds. ^[2]

Much of that waste can be used efficiently and profitably. The most common waste-to-energy (WTE) technology used in the U.S. is the mass-burn system, where untreated MSW is incinerated, producing steam that is used to generate energy. ^[3]

WTE experts often have degrees in engineering and a technical background in solid fuel boiler and steam turbines as well as plant or related industrial experience. Other positions in WTE facilities only require a high school diploma with experience in operating heavy machinery or mechanical aptitude.

Large renewable energy and biochemical consulting firms certainly have experts in biotechnologies, as well as the more common areas like bio and renewable fuels, biomass and biomass power, feedstocks, biomaterials, and biochemicals.  These larger groups will also have expertise in other technologies like agitation systems, anaerobic digestion, beverage fermentation, bio-oil extraction, bioreactors, carbon capture, carbon storage, carbonization, catalysis, cellulosic ethanol, cleantech, combined heat and power, direct combustion, enzyme technologies, fermentation, Fischer-Tropsch, gasification, genetic engineering, hydrothermal,  nanotechnology, organosynthesis, power generation, pyrolysis, renewable technology due diligence, synthetic biology, thermochemical conversion, torrefaction, water treatment, and waste management.

With over 150 consultants worldwide, Lee Enterprises Consulting has the diverse experts and geographical reach to assist in virtually any bioeconomy project. Our highly qualified teams bring a unique integration of technical, scientific, regulatory and hands on experience to any project.  Look at our experts and the services we provide.  Most of our experts are also available to advise and serve as expert witnesses in bioeconomy litigation matters.  For the larger projects, we specialize in putting together full service, interdisciplinary teams with one point of contact.  See video about LEC here.  Call us at 1+ (501) 833-8511 or email us for more information.

[1] https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials#NationalPicture

[2] https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/06/how-to-fight-our-plastic-problem/

[3] https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/?page=biomass_waste_to_energy#tab2