Chapter 2: Properties of Fuels from Domestic and Industrial Waste Check Access

Domestic and industrial waste provides an opportunity to generate renewable gaseous, liquid and solid fuels for low and zero carbon developments, transport, power generation, heating applications and feedstock for petrochemical and refinery synthesis. The demand for energy in many countries is expected to add to the emission of greenhouse gases through burning of fossil fuels and there is urgent need to promote climate-friendly fuels that have physical, chemical and blending properties similar to petro-derived equivalents in order to minimise disruption and hardship during such a transition. As regulations for waste disposal continue to strengthen, alternative uses for waste must be found. A key use is to recover its residual heating values through physical, chemical, biological and thermochemical pathways; such an approach will minimise environmental degradation and promote resource conservation, recovery and recycling. This chapter presents the fuel characteristics of gaseous, liquid, and solid fuels from domestic, and industrial waste, which includes urban, crop, agricultural, and farm waste. Each category of fuel is compared to the conventional fuel it is meant to supplement, complement, or potentially replace. While challenges exist, the generation of waste derived fuels appears to be very promising from both an environmental and energy point of view.