Lighting the City's Fires - Modern Waste-to-Energy (2025)

Lighting the City's Fires - Modern Waste-to-Energy (2025)

Japan is a leader in waste power generation, and by the 2020s, more than 80% of general waste will be incinerated, of which 70% will be used for power generation and heat utilization. In addition to supplying electricity, facilities in Tokyo's 23 wards and Osaka City use residual heat for heated swimming pools and district heating, thus playing a part in urban infrastructure. In terms of technology, fluidized bed furnaces and gasification melting furnaces have become widespread, enabling stable combustion and effective use of by-products. In addition, advanced exhaust gas treatment has reduced dioxin and nitrogen oxide emissions, and some have introduced combined cycle power plants, achieving 25-30% efficiency. In Europe, waste power generation is considered a part of renewable energy and is being developed in a manner that is linked to local heat supply. In Asia, China is rapidly adding facilities and has emerged as the world's largest waste power producer. On the other hand
, coordination with waste reduction and recycling priorities, costs, and carbon emissions remain challenges. Currently, AI and IoT combustion control, carbon capture, and biomass co-firing are beginning to be tested, and the system continues to evolve as an indispensable energy source that supports a recycling-oriented society.