ITAD claims Germany’s wastewater laws are outdated, hindering key innovations in climate protection and resource efficiency at Waste-to-Energy plants.
Key Takeaways
- ITAD claims Germany’s wastewater laws hinder innovations in climate protection and resource efficiency at Waste-to-Energy plants.
- The association calls for a review of the wastewater-free requirement for flue gas cleaning systems in response to a draft amendment of the Wastewater Ordinance.
- ITAD believes existing regulations impede technological advancements, limiting energy efficiency and climate protection efforts.
- The association suggests regulations should allow for dialogue between plant operators and local wastewater treatment facilities, rather than enforce rigid rules.
- ITAD advocates for a reassessment to optimise regulations and eliminate barriers to technology.
The German association of thermal waste treatment plants, ITAD, is calling for a fundamental review of the current wastewater-free requirement for the flue gas cleaning systems of Waste-to-Energy plants. This is in response to a draft amendment to the German Wastewater Ordinance (AbwV).
The association argues that the existing draft from the ministry only clarifies specific points rather than fundamentally reassessing the regulation in light of technological openness, resource efficiency, and climate protection.
Current Regulations Impede Technological Advancement
ITAD contends that against the backdrop of increasing demands for energy efficiency and climate protection, the framework conditions for wastewater discharge must be technically adapted. The association sees potential for utilising additional waste heat through the condensation of flue gases. This process recovers energy but produces excess wastewater that must be discharged into the sewerage system.
Furthermore, complex processes required to remove CO2 from the flue gas of thermal waste treatment plants, such as amine scrubbing, also generate large quantities of water. The implementation of methods for metal recovery from flue gas cleaning residues is also made more difficult by the current regulations. For instance, fly ash washing is affected by these restrictions.
According to ITAD’s assessment, more flexible rules would facilitate the technical expansion of existing plants and promote innovation.
Call To End National Solo Run
With reference to Annex 33 of the AbwV, which currently demands wastewater-free flue gas cleaning, Itad is advocating for a reassessment.
The association points out that Germany is already taking a special path with its general requirement for wastewater-free operation. The standards for German plants are in some cases significantly higher than in other European countries. Additionally, Itad believes the current draft also goes beyond the European requirements set out in the Best Available Techniques (BAT) conclusions for waste incineration.
Therefore, ITAD advocates using the amendment not just for minor clarifications but to dismantle potential technology barriers with greater foresight. The association also suggests that issues of wastewater quantity and quality should be regulated more through dialogue between plant operators and local wastewater treatment plant operators. This is recommended rather than by a rigid, uniform framework.
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