From Trash to Power — Pakistan’s Waste to Fulfill Country’s Energy Shortfall
By: Tooba Alam
Tags: Waste Management, Pakistan, Renewable Energy, Electricity, Waste To Energy

It wouldn’t be wrong if we say that, Pakistan is becoming a “Trash Can” in its own hands! Most importantly, its largest metropolitan city, Karachi, alone produce around 13,500 TONS OF MUNICIPAL WASTE ON DAILY BASIS!!! Whereas, according to the Government of Pakistan, other municipal cities like Lahore create more than 87,000 tons of solid waste each day. Having said that, Pakistan’s overall waste production touches 49 million tons of waste per annum. But this does not stop here! These 49 million tons increase more than 2% on annual basis. The problem is due to lack of waste management system like in every other developing country. The trash here is either burned, dumped or buried, putting health and welfare of the entire population on high risk.

Waste Management X Electricity Shortfall

With time various institutions have worked on possible solutions to resolve the issue; but all-in vein. This is not just due to lack of civic sense in our society but also due to lack of resources and dedication toward the cause. However, keeping the above-mentioned problem aside, we already have other major problems in Pakistan that need to be catered. And one of those problems is Electricity Shortfall across the country. This is another major problem faced be the country that further affects different progress aspects of the nation like, industrialization. However, after a lot of focused studies, it has been found that, both the dilemma of Waste Management and Electricity Shortfall can be solved hand in hand! Today, fortunately, the advancement of technology and other improved and innovative solutions towards the welfare of the society has contributed in resolving issues that are faced by the masses.

Waste Management System Producing Electricity

One such advancement includes a waste management plant, that turns the trash into electricity. The process revolves around heating systems that burn the junk to an extent that it produces enough smoke which kick starts the turbine that is used to produce electricity. This method is usually used around the globe for large scale electricity production as the job is done be the national giants through enormous power plants infrastructure. The mechanism is such that, the destruction of waste release emissions and residues which are further dealt with in a way that helps achieving higher efficiency rates with a low volume of leftover products. Though there are various models of the system, they all work on the same basic principles and a similar aim of turning waste into energy.

The requirements include, a stockpile of waste, a furnace, a boiler consisting of heat exchangers, a water supply system that’s able to provide the quantity in abundance, a turbine and a generator. Bunkers are made where the waste is stored and is then transferred through a chute to a moving grate and then into a furnace, placed below the plant’s boiler. At this point, the temperature is at its highest with gasses being heated at over 800 degrees for at least a minute to ensure that the entire waste is burned down into ashes. This helps in forming the stable end products with the residue left behind, called bottom ash. In the end, around 20% of the waste left behind at the bottom is again heated in the furnace, which gives rise to intense heat, divided into a series of chambers in the boiler. The idea is to collect the thermal power generated by the process as efficiently as possible.

A series of water pipes are then filled with little water just like a household radiator to vaporize water in the form of super-heated steam, which is then sent to the turbine where it is then highly pressurized and forces the blades, in turbines, to rotate at higher speed; giving a push to the generator in order to kickstart the electricity production process. The electricity is further stored into the power grids for use, whereas, the remaining water levels again pass through some loosed-loop cycle in the turbines to reform into condensed water and then into steam again.

Pakistan and Renewable Energy

Apart from the above-mentioned process, there are some other basic processes that can help in waste to energy cause. However, if the local government and the institutions of Pakistan want to incorporate the waste-to-energy initiatives, the process will account for 25% of the waste into valuable renewable energy, minimizing the electricity shortfall across the country.