Passarini Fabrizio, Nicoletti Monica, Ciacci Luca, Vassura Ivano, Morselli Luciano
Department of Industrial Chemistry "Toso Montanari", University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, Italy; Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research "Energy & Environment", CIRI ENA - University of Bologna, 47900 Rimini, Italy.
Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research "Energy & Environment", CIRI ENA - University of Bologna, 47900 Rimini, Italy.
Waste Manag. 2014 Apr;34(4):753-62. doi: 10.1016/j.wasman.2013.12.022. Epub 2014 Jan 28.
The study focuses on analysing the evolution of environmental impacts caused by a medium-large Italian WtE plant before and after revamping and maintenance operations, with the aim of providing an evaluation of how much these structural upgrade measures may affect the total environmental performance. LCA methodology was applied for the modelling and comparison of six WtE scenarios, each describing the main structural upgrades carried out in the plant over the years 1996-2011. The comparison was conducted by adopting 1ton of MSW as the functional unit, and the net contribution from energy recovery to power generation was distinguished by defining consistent national grid electricity mixes for every year considered. The Ecoindicator99 2.09 impact assessment method was used to evaluate the contribution to midpoint and endpoint categories (e.g. carcinogens, respiratory inorganics and organics, climate change, damage to human health). Lastly, the "Pedigree quality matrix" was applied to verify the reliability and robustness of the model created. As expected, the results showed better environmental scores after both the implementation of new procedures and the integration of operations. However, while a net reduction of air emissions seems to be achievable through dedicated flue gas treatment technologies, outcomes underscored potentials for improving the management of bottom ash through the adoption of alternative options aimed to use that solid residue mainly as filler, and to decrease risks from its current disposal in landfill. If the same effort that is put into flue gas treatment were devoted to energy recovery, the targets for the WtE plant could be easily met, achieving a higher sustainability. This aspect is even more complex: national policies for implementing greener and renewable energy sources would result in a lower impact of the national energy mix and, hence, in a lower net avoided burden from energy recovery. The study confirmed the expected improvements, indicating quantitatively the lower environmental impact resulting from structural upgrade operations in a WtE plant. Furthermore, the work highlights the importance of considering the evolution of the national energy mix in LCA studies, especially during the present years of transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources.
该研究聚焦于分析意大利一家大中型垃圾焚烧发电厂在改造和维护前后所造成的环境影响的演变，目的是评估这些结构升级措施对整体环境绩效的影响程度。生命周期评估（LCA）方法被用于六个垃圾焚烧场景的建模和比较，每个场景描述了该工厂在1996年至2011年期间进行的主要结构升级。比较以1吨城市固体废弃物作为功能单位进行，通过为每个考虑年份定义一致的国家电网电力组合来区分能源回收对发电的净贡献。采用Ecoindicator99 2.09影响评估方法来评估对中点和终点类别（如致癌物、呼吸性无机和有机物质、气候变化、对人类健康的损害）的贡献。最后，应用“谱系质量矩阵”来验证所创建模型的可靠性和稳健性。正如预期的那样，结果显示在实施新程序和整合运营后环境得分更高。然而，虽然通过专用烟气处理技术似乎可以实现空气排放的净减少，但结果强调了通过采用替代方案来改善底灰管理的潜力，这些替代方案旨在主要将该固体残渣用作填料，并降低其目前填埋处置的风险。如果将用于烟气处理的同样努力投入到能源回收中，垃圾焚烧发电厂的目标可以轻松实现，从而实现更高程度的可持续性。这方面更为复杂：实施更绿色和可再生能源的国家政策将导致国家能源组合的影响降低，进而导致能源回收的净避免负担降低。该研究证实了预期的改善，定量表明了垃圾焚烧发电厂结构升级操作所带来的较低环境影响。此外，这项工作突出了在生命周期评估研究中考虑国家能源组合演变的重要性，特别是在当前从化石燃料向可再生能源过渡的年份。
