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AEB produces green energy for Amsterdam

The City of Amsterdam’s Waste and Energy Company (Afval Energie Bedrijf, or AEB) has almost 400 employees, who are committed to collecting and processing waste, generating energy and recovering materials for recycling every day. AEB converts 99% of its waste supply into energy and raw materials. It is our way of contributing to a clean city and turning Amsterdam into a sustainable metropolis.

Amsterdam's City Hall, trams, underground trains and street lights all use green electricity supplied by AEB. We generate sufficient energy to meet the electricity needs of 285,000 households, i.e. 75% of all households in Amsterdam. AEB also uses the heat generated during waste incineration to provide 12,000 households with heating and hot water.

Getting a maximum return on waste has been our company’s guiding mission since its foundation. The objective is to recover the greatest possible amount of useful resources from waste in a clean and responsible way: electricity, heat, valuable metals and raw materials for the construction and industrial sectors. This has been possible since the waste to energy plant became operational in 1993. The heat produced by waste incineration is used to generate electricity and for home and business heating. Ten years later, the City of Amsterdam approved the construction of a second waste to energy plant, the Waste Fired

Power Plant. A plant of this type offers not only higher energy efficiency but can also recover significantly higher quantities of materials than conventional plants.

AEB processes waste from Amsterdam and nineteen surrounding municipalities and companies. Recoverable waste enters the recycling cycle through the Wastepoints, the Hazardous Waste Depot and the Regional Sorting Centre, all of which are part of the AEB organisation. Residual waste that cannot be reused immediately is converted into energy through incineration. Because the volume of combustible waste is decreasing in the Netherlands while the demand for sustainable energy is increasing, AEB now also accepts combustible waste from the United Kingdom and Germany. Even when the environmental impact of transportation is taken into account, it has been shown that transporting the waste to the Netherlands is a better option. This is because it is more environmentally friendly to incinerate the waste in a highly efficient plant in the Netherlands than to dump it in the country of origin.

AEB is a publicly owned organisation with objectives that serve society as a whole. Our goal is to work efficiently and transparently with a view to producing maximum benefit to society. Part of the profit is reinvested to enable waste to be processed even more sustainably and efficiently with the highest possible yield.

afval = AEB in societyAEB produces sustainable energy for Amsterdam. Residents and businesses come across our services several times a day, but are often unaware of this.

For now...

A description of AEB quickly leads to quoting enormous quantities. For example, we are the largest single-site waste processor in the world. Some other notable facts:

• Every year, AEB processes more than 1.4 million tonnes of domestic and industrial waste. This represents 20% to 25% of the total annual quantity of combustible waste in the Netherlands. It also means 4,400 tonnes of waste are delivered to AEB every day, which is the equivalent of roughly half a million garbage bags per day. Additionally, AEB processes 100,000 tonnes of sewage sludge from Waternet.

• Every day, 600 garbage trucks and a freight train dump this waste into a 30 metre high storage bunker.

• The temperature in the waste heat boiler is 1,000 to 1,200°C.

• AEB recycles 99% of the waste it processes.

• AEB generates 1 million MWh of electricity, enough to meet 1% of the energy demand of the Netherlands.

• AEB generates 500,000 gigajoules of energy for district heating and hot water. A household connected to district heating uses an average of 25 gigajoules per year.

• AEB generates sufficient electricity to supply it to 285,000 households.

• 50,000 new and existing homes and business units will be connected to district heating between now and 2025.

• AEB recovers 17,740 tonnes of iron and 2,595 tonnes of non-ferrous metals (such as copper and aluminium) from bottom ashes (the incombustible materials left over after incineration). These metals are reused in the metal industry.

• Around 70% of the bulk waste deposited at the six Wastepoints is recycled. For electrical equipment this percentage is even higher than 80%.

The lights are switched on in 285,000 homes

Facts and figures

Most people view waste as something worthless, something to get rid of to keep things neat and tidy. At AEB, we look at waste very differently. We see waste as a source of energy and raw materials. We incinerate the waste that is not suitable for recycling to generate a useful product: energy. Energy in the form of heat and electricity that can be used for many purposes, for example for district heating or to provide the electricity to power trams for public transport. We are proud of our contribution to a living, working and growing city of Amsterdam. All with clean energy and heat supplied by AEB.

Waste is electricityWhite plumes of steam are emitted 24/7 from the two prominent stacks of AEB in Amsterdam’s western port. AEB has two waste to energy plants: the original Waste to Energy Plant has a capacity of 850,000 tonnes of waste a year and an electrical yield of 24%, while the Waste Fired Power Plant has a net efficiency of more than 30% and processes 530,000 tonnes a year. This electrical efficiency of over 30% is made possible by an innovative system that taps steam from the turbine halfway through the process so it can be heated twice, thus producing even higher temperatures.

Waste is (district) heating50,000 Amsterdam households already use district heating, of which 25% comes from heat produced by waste incineration. Around 4,000 new homes and apartments are added to the heating system in Amsterdam every year, for example on the Zeeburger Island and in Amsterdam North. Work is proceeding on a ring pipeline for district heating in Amsterdam, so that more households can be connected to the system in the future. In this project, AEB and Dutch energy company Nuon are cooperating in the form of a joint venture called Westpoort Warmte. During the next few years, AEB and Nuon will together implement the City of Amsterdam’s energy and climate policy by connecting 100,000 households to the district heating system. In the longer term, the connection of 200,000 households is planned. In this way, AEB is making the provision of heating in the city more sustainable. After all, the use of heat produced from waste means that there is no need to burn primary fuels (such as natural gas) in the boilers at home.

50,000 households enjoy the comfort of district heating

Source of energy

Waste is not only a source of energy, it is also a source of raw materials. Waste that is sepa-rated before incineration will be ready for reuse after one or more process steps. This may be in the original form, such as glass or paper, or as something completely new. For example, rubber tyres may be recycled into rubber tiles for a playground. However, incinerated waste is also a source of raw materials. For example, metals can be filtered out and recycled com-pletely.

Incineration furnace as a gold mineSome materials do not burn during incineration; they are referred to as bottom ash. For us, however, there is no such thing as unusable material. First, we extract valuable metals such as iron, copper and aluminium, which we sell to special-ized recycling companies. The remaining matter is a stone-like mass which is used in the construction of roads as fill material for embankments. During the construction of the Westrandweg road (for the second Coen tunnel) in Amsterdam, the use of bottom ashes resulted in a total of a million cubic metres less sand being needed. Products are also extracted from the flue gas. During the cleaning process, airborne ash particles (fly ash) are captured. These are used in the asphalt industry. Additionally, gypsum is extracted during the treatment process and can be put to use in the construction industry.

A second lifeAEB also recycles “old” materials such as batteries and other chemical products, textiles, wood and discarded electrical appliances. All these materials are collected at the Hazardous Waste Depot, the Regional Sorting Centre and the six Waste-points in Amsterdam. The Hazardous Waste Depot accepts materials such as batteries, solvents, paints, used oil, hospital and medical wastes and spray cans. Already, more than 25% of these materials can be recycled. Private individuals and business users can deposit bulk waste at the Wastepoints. Around 70% of bulk waste is recycled in various forms. For example, iron, aluminium, zinc and copper can be used to produce cans. Clean wood wastes are turned into chips and used to make MDF or chipboard. There are also numerous other examples. At the Regional Sorting Centre, electrical appliances are collected, stored and sent for recycling. As much as 80% of the materials from these appliances can be reused.

A soft landing – a car tyre becomes a rubber tile

Source of raw materials

AEB uses advanced technology to supply useful and sustainable products at a reasonable price. The continuing attention we pay to innovation and professionalism allows us to continue to comply with increasingly strict legislation and the high standards we hold ourselves to. This means that we are always interested in cooperation with other companies – companies with the same vision, the same eye for detail, efficiency and the environment. These are qualities we find in our partners Waternet, Nuon and the Port of Amsterdam. This mainly concerns the creation of synergies: we strengthen each other’s processes and improve each other’s products.

AEB turns Amsterdam greenWind, water and the sun are well-known sources of sustainable energy. Biomass, a source of sustainable energy from organic materials, is less well-known although it accounts for more than half the sustainable energy generated in the Netherlands. 51% of the waste processed by AEB consists of biomass. We are continuing to improve our ability to get more energy from this type of material. In addition to waste, we also incinerate other materials including sewage sludge from the sewage treatment plant operated by Waternet. We are exploring ways of processing more sewage sludge and looking into other types of biomass originating in Amsterdam, neighbouring municipalities and Waternet to see whether they are suitable for generating sustainable energy. Our goal

is to produce significantly more green energy within the next three years. In this way, we are making an important contribution to the City of Amsterdam’s climate target of reducing CO2 emissions by 40%.

Heating or coolingWe also have ambitious goals when it comes to district heating. In addition to expansion of the district heating network, we are looking at ways to make the supply of heat more sustainable. At the present time, the heat supplied by AEB already results in 80% less CO2 emissions compared to central heating boilers. We are also investigating whether it is possible to connect other sustainable sources of heat, including geothermal energy and energy from biomass power plants (burning garden cuttings, for example) to the district heating network. The aim is to make the heating supply in Amsterdam 100% sustainable.In addition to heat, AEB will supply cooling via Westpoort Warmte to businesses and households. Cold water in deep lakes is one source of this cooling. The provision of this cooling means that energy-wasting air conditioning systems do not need to be used.

Future sources of green energySteam is a very old and clean source of energy. Enormous quantities of steam are produced at AEB’s facilities, more than we can use ourselves. Together with the Port of Amsterdam, we are approaching companies in the harbour area in order to find potential applications for this steam. AEB treats sewage on behalf of Waternet. A by-product of this process is biogas, which we now use to generate electricity and heat. This biogas could also be used to produce green gas, an excellent fuel for vehicles. For the longer term, we are investi-gating whether solar and wind energy fit with AEB’s existing activities.

The future is green

Source of innovation

AEB is becoming a sustainable energy company

Increasing sustainability in the entire waste chain means that the stream of waste for incineration is decreasing in the Netherlands. This development calls for a change of course and a new role for AEB. Stricter legislation forces energy suppliers to use more sustainable methods. AEB, the largest producer of sustainable energy in Amsterdam, is the obvious partner in realizing further growth in sustainable energy in Amsterdam. Especially if AEB cooperates with partners such as Waternet and Nuon, which also have a great deal of knowledge with regard to alternative energy sources.

AEB as chain manager for the recycling of raw materialsIn the field of raw materials, the City of Amsterdam has ambitious goals. By 2020 waste will be almost completely used to produce raw materials and energy. As an important link in the production chain, AEB has a good overview of the whole chain. It is AEB’s ambition to take on the role of managing the chain for the recycling of raw materials.

Dynamic marketThe waste and recycling market is highly dynamic. AEB keeps in step with the market: we operate at two ends of the spectrum in terms of primary necessities: waste disposal and energy generation. We also provide a third necessity: raw materials. AEB is a company with two valuable qualities: smooth processes and the ability to innovate - a combination that binds us, gives us strength and motivates us. Combined with our no-nonsense approach, we are ready for the future. Indeed, for us the future has begun.

The city in motion

... and for the future

© 2011Waste and Energy Company, City of AmsterdamCorporate CommunicationsP.O. Box 58292NL-1040 HG AmsterdamT +31 (0)20 587 62 99info@afvalenergiebedrijf.nlwww.afvalenergiebedrijf.nl

‘We are able to recycle 99% of the waste. We do our utmost to achieve this.’Bert van de Belt, Team Coordinator Residues and Chemicals

‘At AEB, you are given lots of opportunity to help think of improvements to processes and safety. Individual initiatives are really appreciated.’Delano Toppin, Team Member Collection and Recycling

‘District heating makes natural gas redundant and allows the City of Amsterdam to achieve significant reductions in CO2 emissions. This is something to be proud of.’Sietse Agema, Sustainability and Innovation Advisor

209 kg of building materials

3 kg of metalsMetals such as copper, zinc and aluminium are melted down and reused as raw materials for various products (for example, food cans).

The stone-like mass that remains after incineration is used as fill material under roads, for (temporary) roads on construc-tion sites and site paving.

900 kWh of electricity

91 kWh of heat

4.5 kg of gypsum

0.5 kg of dumped waste

combustion

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supply flue gas cleaning

energy generation

flue gas cleaningflue gas cleaning

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combustionsupplyAEB uses advanced technology to be able to offer its products at a reasonable price. This means that we are always interested in cooperation with other companies – companies with the same vision, the same eye for detail, efficiency and the environment.

Source of INNOVATION

We incinerate waste that is not suitable for reuse or recycling to generate a useful product: energy. Energy in the form of heat and electricity that can be used for many purposes.

Source of ENERGY

Waste that is separated before incineration will be ready for reuse after one or more process steps. However, incinerated waste is also a source of raw materials. For example, metals can be filtered out and completely recycled.

Source of RAW MATERIALS

We produce sufficient green electricity to light most of the city.

District heating provides heat to 50,000 households in Amsterdam. 25% of this heat is produced from waste. Every year, thousands of households are added.

Out of each 1,000 kg of waste, only 0.5 kg of residual waste remains for which we have no use. This is dumped.

During the flue gas cleaning process gypsum is extracted and is processed to produce a new gypsum product.

zinc and aluminium are melted down and reused

various products (for example, food cans).

At AEB, we look at waste very differently from most people. We see it as a source of energy and raw materials. We see the city coming to life, people going to work, children playing – all with energy, heat and raw materials produced by AEB.

RECYCLING OR INCINERATION?Many types of waste are given a second life. They are being used for a different purpose or recycled. Waste that cannot be recycled to produce raw materials is incinerated. This process produces energy, heat and raw materials.

incineration

1,000 kgNon-separated waste

Wastepoints

Hazardous Waste Depot

Regional Sorting Centre

recycling

We produce sufficient green electricity to light most

During the flue gas cleaning process gypsum is extracted and is processed to produce a new gypsum product.

District heating provides heat

waste. Every year, thousands

Batteries

Building and demolition rubble

Copper, zinc, aluminium

Deep-frying oil

Electrical appliances

Fabrics

Fire extinguishers

Fluorescent lighting tubes

Fruit and vegetable waste

Garden wastes

Glass

Gypsum

Household batteries

Iron

Paper and cardboard

Plastic

PVC

Recycling articles

Styrofoam

Tyres

Wood

reheating process

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190 ºC14 bar

320 ºC13 bar

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steam

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reheater

over-verhitter high-pressure

turbinelow-pressure turbine

generator

feed

wat

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drum

steam

water

boiler

335 ºC135 bar superheater

16 kg of ironIron is sent to a specialized recycling company. It cleans the iron and melts it down to produce new raw material for production. to produce new raw material

material under roads, for (temporary) roads on construc-tion sites and site paving.

At AEB, we look at waste very At AEB, we look at waste very differently from most people. We see differently from most people. We see it as a source of energy and raw it as a source of energy and raw materials. We see the city coming materials. We see the city coming

Energizing Societyuse. This is dumped.