After being renovated, the waste-to-energy plant at Saint-Pantaléon de Larche (France) is producing energy from local, renewable resources and protecting the environment. Its operating costs for the local authorities are now lower and its contribution to the circular economy is greater.
thousands of t/a of steam produced, of which 60K t/a are sold to a local company in the agri-food industry
months after CNIM began operating the plant, ISO 14001 certification was received
MWh of electricity produced by the new turbine
Built in 1972, the waste-to-energy plant at Saint-Pantaléon de Larche treats 60,000 metric tons of household waste a year. Since 1984, the steam produced there has been supplying local industry and providing heating for municipal greenhouses. Considered to be out-of-date, the site is threatened with closure. But in 2013 its operator, SYTTOM 19, hands responsibility for its modernization and operation to CNIM for a 10-year period.
The first of its kind in France, CNIM installed VapoLAB® - a high-performance, dry treatment of flue gases using lime. The generated steam is brought into contact with the recirculated, unused reagent, boosting the reagent activity. An innovative and economical process, it limits the use of reagents and also improves environmental performance. A complementary process, TermiNOx®, reduces the nitrogen oxides without requiring additional ammonia and eliminates gaseous dioxins.
A new 2.2 MW turbo generator is added to the existing thermal cycle, producing electricity that can then be used to recover all of the steam produced at the plant.
The replacement of wet flue-gas treatment with an innovative dry system was carried out in 2014, followed a year later by the installation of the new turbo generator. As a result, the site met the three criteria required for a reduction in the TGAP, a French tax on polluting activities. Emission of NOx gases is less than 80 mg/Nm3 – an energy performance coefficient of 60%, and certifications were achieved for ISO 14001 and 18001 standards.
With an annual production of 12,500 MWh, the plant now provides electricity for 1,800 homes.
The innovative solutions and the commitments made in terms of the treatment of flue gases, protection of the environment and energy recovery gave CNIM the highest technical marks amongst its competitors.
Pierre Pittman - Syttom 19
