Benefits from Usage of Alternative Fuels in the Cement Production

Abstract

Use of waste for energy recovery as one of the most determinant waste management alternative, is a proven and widely spread practice worldwide. One of the widespread complimentary methods used extensively and internationally to reduce the amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) in a safe and environmentally friendly manner is their conversion to valuable products as alternative fuel. Alternative fuels are safely used in large industrial furnaces such as the cement kilns. On 24 September 2015, Albania submitted its new climate action plan to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The INDC (Intended Nationally Determined Contribution ) of Albania is a baseline scenario target: it commits to reduce CO2 emissions compared to the baseline scenario in the period of 2016 and 2030 by 11.5 %. This reduction means 708 kT carbon-dioxide emission reductions in 2030. Cement plants can help Albania in achieving its 2030 target by substituting fossil based fuels with alternative fuels derived from processing of municipal solid waste producing RDF. This can be done by contributing in two areas: a. b. CO2 reduction due to substitution of fossil fuels CO2 reduction from avoidance of waste landfilling By co-processing RDF in the cement kilns the country avoids emissions of CO2 from waste landfilling and reduces CO2 emissions from substitution of fossil fuels with RDF. Depending on the characteristics of the RDF used, the contribution of cement plants in achieving the 2030 target for Albania can vary from 20 – 42 %.