Progress of RDF Combustion Technology - From Kitakyushu's Wakamatsu General Office to the 2020s

Progress of RDF Combustion Technology - From Kitakyushu's Wakamatsu General Office to the 2020s

September 1997
The RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel) combustion system completed at Kitakyushu's Wakamatsu General Office in September 1997 was a symbol of technological innovation of the time. Designed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries with an external circulation fluidized bed boiler and equipped by Sumitomo Heavy Industries with an activated carbon desulfurization and denitrification system, it achieved a power generation efficiency of 35%. The system processed 4.2 tons of RDF per hour, significantly reducing dioxin emissions. Centered in Kitakyushu, efforts were underway to promote its adoption nationwide.

2000s
In the 2000s, RDF combustion technology gained attention domestically and internationally. In Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, and Tokyo, large-scale RDF power generation facilities began operation, contributing over 5 billion kWh of annual waste-derived power generation. Advances in catalyst technology and combustion temperature control reduced carbon dioxide emissions by over 10%.

The government strengthened policies to promote RDF use as part of forming a recycling-oriented society. Technical improvements allowed the design of systems tailored to municipalities' waste treatment capacities. Regional cities like Sapporo and Hiroshima also adopted RDF technology, expanding its nationwide adoption.

2010s
By the 2010s, RDF systems saw further efficiency improvements, achieving average power generation efficiency exceeding 38%. Kitakyushu City established itself as an international eco-town, introducing facilities capable of processing 6 tons of RDF per hour, providing both power generation and district heating.

During this period, international exports of RDF technology surged. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Sumitomo Heavy Industries built facilities in Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia to address waste management issues. In Yokohama City, next-generation systems reduced dioxin emissions to below 0.03 nanograms, achieving significant environmental impact reductions.

2020s
Today, RDF systems have achieved power generation efficiencies exceeding 40% in some facilities. Cities like Kitakyushu and Osaka are pioneering these systems as sources of local energy supply, presenting new models for waste management. With Kawasaki Heavy Industries and new players entering the market, the international competitiveness of Japanese RDF technology continues to grow, accelerating global adoption.

RDF combustion technology remains a cornerstone in the journey towards a sustainable society.