RDF is produced from non-recyclable solid waste, which is transformed into a usable fuel through a process of sorting, shredding, and preparation. This transformation not only reduces the volume of waste going to landfill but also creates a valuable energy resource.
Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) offers numerous advantages, both environmentally and economically. Here is an overview of the main benefits:
Using waste to produce RDF significantly reduces the amount of materials that end up in landfills. This results in less use of space and reduced environmental impact related to landfill.
As RDF is derived from recovered materials, it enables a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions compared to the use of traditional fossil fuels.
The production of RDF falls under the concept of the circular economy, where waste is transformed into resources. This vision promotes sustainability and reduces the need to extract new resources.
By using RDF as an energy alternative, dependence on fossil fuels is reduced, thus helping to diversify energy sources and mitigate price instability in the sector.
In many situations, using RDF as a fuel can be more cost-effective than other energy sources, especially considering the long-term benefits related to less impact on the environment.
RDF can be used in various industrial applications, including cement plants, thermal power plants, and combined heat and power plants, providing great versatility in energy options.
The growing interest in RDF drives research and innovation in clean combustion technologies and more efficient production methods of RDF itself.
In short, RDF represents a sustainable and cost-effective solution to contemporary energy and environmental challenges.
Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) is mainly used as an alternative energy source to traditional fossil fuels. Here are some of the main ways in which RDF is used:
Cement factories represent one of the main users of RDF. Here, RDF can partially or totally replace fossil fuels traditionally used in kilns. The use of RDF in this context helps to reduce CO2 emissions, as a recovered material is used instead of mineral extracts.
RDF can be used as fuel in thermal power plants to produce electricity.
Combined heat and power plants produce both electricity and thermal energy. By using RDF as fuel in these plants, a double energy benefit can be achieved.
Although RDF is different from untreated municipal solid waste, it can be burned in waste-to-energy plants designed or adapted to process this type of fuel. In this context, RDF is used to produce thermal energy, which can then be converted into electricity.
Besides cement plants, there are other industries that require large amounts
