Exploring the potential of waste incineration power generation: How many kilowatt-hours of electricity can be generated from one ton of garbage?

In power plants, garbage burns at high temperatures, releasing heat energy, which is then converted into electricity. Many people are curious about how much electricity can be generated from one ton of garbage. Before figuring out this question, we must first clarify a few terms for measuring power generation:

1. Waste Heating Value (LHV)

2. The power generation efficiency of the whole plant η (Unit: %)

3. Electricity generation per ton of garbage (Q): 3600 is the factor for converting kW·h to kWh, and 1000 is the factor for converting tons to kilograms.

If the calculation is not very strict, the above can meet the calculation requirements. The steps are as follows:

First, convert the calorific value of the unit weight of garbage into kilowatt-hours, or other calorific value units that you are familiar with, then multiply it by 3600, and divide it by the product of the power generation efficiency of the whole plant and the coefficient of converting tons to kilograms. The value obtained is the power generation per ton of garbage.

▪️If the efficiency of the waste incineration power plant is 25%, the calorific value of the garbage is 1500kcal/kg, then the calculated power generation per ton of garbage is 436kwh/t;

▪️If the calorific value of the garbage is 1000kcal/kg, then the calculated power generation per ton of garbage is 291kwh/t.

How much waste residue can be produced from one ton of garbage?

Generally speaking, the amount of waste residue generated after one ton of garbage is incinerated is about 200-300 kg. The following are some common types of garbage and the approximate range of waste residue generated:
Ordinary domestic garbage: Usually, about 200-250 kg of waste residue will be generated after each ton of ordinary domestic garbage is incinerated. This is because ordinary domestic garbage contains a large amount of organic matter, which will be fully burned and decomposed during the incineration process, converted into carbon dioxide, water vapor and other gases and discharged into the atmosphere, while the remaining incombustible substances form waste residue.
Mixed garbage: If it is unsorted mixed garbage, the amount of waste residue generated after incineration may be relatively high, about 250-300 kg. This is because mixed garbage may contain more inorganic matter and non-combustible impurities, which will all be converted into waste residue after incineration, resulting in an increase in waste residue production.