Abu Dhabi Power Company and its subsidiary, UAE Hydro, have signed an agreement with Tadeville to build two waste-to-energy plants in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. The company said in a statement on March 31 that the projects will convert 1.5 million tons of municipal waste into energy each year and will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 2.5 million tons per year.

The UAE, which accounts for 4% of global oil production, has been seeking to add more renewable power generation capacity. The country aims to reduce its carbon footprint by 70% by 2050. Jasim Thabet, CEO and managing director of ADPower, said the planned facility is in line with the UAE's vision for 2021, removing 75% of waste from landfills.

"The proposal to convert waste into energy will reduce the impact of waste on the environment and human health and help achieve the sustainable development agenda of the hydropower sector," Jasim said.

The waste-to-energy facility in Abu Dhabi will be located in the Moussafah industrial area in the emirate and is expected to handle 900,000 tons of waste annually. The power plant is also expected to generate up to 90 megawatts of electricity, reducing annual emissions by 1.5 million tons.

The Ain plant is expected to have an annual processing capacity of 600,000 tons and a power generation capacity of 60 MW. The facility is also expected to help reduce carbon emissions by 1 million tons per year.

These power plants will be developed on the basis of independent power generation models. After the project is completed, the contractor Ewec and Tadweer will sign a long-term power purchase agreement. The companies will also invite the private sector to participate in the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of these facilities. The companies said that the ash generated during the waste conversion process will be recycled and made into reusable materials. Editor / Huang Lijun