Progress of RDF Combustion System - Kitakyushu Wakamatsu General Office to 2020s

Progress of RDF Combustion System - Kitakyushu Wakamatsu General Office to 2020s

September 1997
The Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) combustion equipment completed at the Wakamatsu General Office in Kitakyushu City was a symbol of technological innovation at the time. The unit, equipped with an external circulating fluidized bed boiler designed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and an activated carbon desulfurization and denitrification system by Sumitomo Heavy Industries, achieved a power generation efficiency of 35%. 4.2 tons of RDF could be burned per hour, significantly reducing dioxin emissions. Efforts were underway, centering on Kitakyushu City, to promote the use of the system throughout Japan.

The 2000s
In the 2000s, RDF combustion technology attracted attention in Japan and abroad. In particular, large-scale RDF power generation facilities began operating in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, and Tokyo. This contributed to local energy supply, with waste power generation reaching more than 500 million kWh per year. Also during this period, improvements in catalyst technology and advanced management of combustion temperatures led to the introduction of technologies that reduced carbon dioxide emissions by more than 10%.

Meanwhile, the government promoted the formation of a recycling-oriented society and strengthened policies to promote the use of RDF. Led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Sumitomo Heavy Industries, technological improvements have made it possible to design equipment that meets the waste treatment capacity of each municipality. Furthermore, RDF technology was also adopted in regional cities such as Sapporo and Hiroshima in Hokkaido, and its diffusion progressed on a nationwide scale.

The 2010s
In the 2010s, RDF combustion equipment became even more efficient, with power generation efficiency increasing to an average of over 38%. In particular, Kitakyushu City in Fukuoka Prefecture established itself as an international eco-town. The state-of-the-art facility processes 6 tons of RDF per hour and has installed a system that simultaneously generates electricity and provides district heating.

Also during this period, exports of technology to international markets began in earnest. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Sumitomo Heavy Industries constructed facilities in Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia. In these countries, RDF combustion technology is being used as a countermeasure to the rapidly growing waste problem. In addition, as part of a waste reduction project in Yokohama, Japan, a next-generation unit with dioxin emissions of less than 0.03 nanograms is in operation. This has succeeded in reducing environmental impact.

2020s
Today, the performance of RDF combustion equipment has been further improved, with some facilities achieving power generation efficiencies of 40% or more. Facilities in Kitakyushu City, Osaka City, and other cities are functioning as a source of local energy, presenting a new model for waste treatment. In addition, the entry of Kawasaki Heavy Industries and other new companies has further increased the international competitiveness of the system, accelerating its adoption around the world.

RDF combustion equipment continues to evolve as an indispensable technology for building a sustainable society.