The Ulm-Donautal Waste-to-Erergy plant’s 2025 emission figures are substantially below required limits. The facility not only meets but exceeds standards while generating significant energy from waste.
Key Takeaways
- The Ulm-Donautal WtE plant’s 2025 emissions are well below required limits, showcasing environmental efficiency in energy production.
- Emissions measured include dioxins at 0.0014 nanograms, dust at 0.40 milligrams, and nitrogen oxides at 68.8 milligrams, all within or below approved thresholds.
- The plant operates under stricter ammonia limits of 5 milligrams, with actual emissions much lower at 1.42 milligrams.
- In 2025, the facility treated over 160,000 tonnes of waste, generating nearly 159 million kilowatt-hours of district heating and over 49 million kilowatt-hours of electricity.
- Continuous measurements ensure compliance with stricter standards set by authorities and the 17th Federal Immission Control Ordinance.
The Ulm-Donautal waste-to-energy (WtE) plant has reported that its emissions for the 2025 operational year were substantially below all approved limits. The data was published by the Thermal Waste-to-Energy Association Donautal (TAD). The facility processes waste from a catchment area of approximately 1.2 million people, generating electricity and district heating through combined heat and power.
Detailed Emission Figures
The measurements show that emissions of dioxins and furans were at 0.0014 nanograms per cubic metre of air, compared to a permitted limit of 0.1 nanograms. Dust emissions were recorded at 0.40 milligrams per cubic metre, which corresponds to 7.9 per cent of the approved limit, according to the plant operator.
Nitrogen oxide levels reached 68.8 milligrams per cubic metre, remaining within the plant’s specific permitted limit of 70 milligrams. Emissions of sulphur dioxide were 0.9 milligrams per cubic metre, or 17.9 per cent of the approved value. For carbon monoxide, the measured 12.5 milligrams account for 25.1 per cent of the permitted threshold. Heavy metal emissions were 0.0048 milligrams per cubic metre against a limit of 0.1 milligrams.
Stricter Standards and Verification
The permitted emission values for the German WtE plant, approved by the responsible authority, are in most cases lower than the legal limits set by the 17th Federal Immission Control Ordinance (17. BImSchV). The actual measured values are, in turn, considerably lower than these specific permits.
A new legal limit for ammonia of 10 milligrams per cubic metre was introduced in 2019. The Ulm-Donautal plant operates under a stricter approved limit of 5 milligrams, with actual measured emissions of 1.42 milligrams. The presented results are composed of continuous online measurements at the plant and control measurements by TÜV Umweltservice Filderstadt.
Energy Production in 2025
In 2025, the facility thermally treated 160,369 tonnes of household and similar commercial waste. The heat generated was used for power and district heating. Nearly 159 million kilowatt-hours of district heating were fed into the grid of Fernwärme Ulm GmbH (FUG), supplying the Ulm-Wiblingen district and the Ulm-Donautal industrial area. Over 49 million kilowatt-hours of electricity were supplied to the grid of Stadtwerke Ulm.
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