Attains zero-waste, net-zero emissions in first year of operations
The Sharjah Waste-to-Energy (SWTE) plant, a first-of-its-kind project in the Middle East, has achieved multiple landmark milestones since its inauguration a year ago. Tied to the Sharjah electrical grid, the plant has generated enough energy to power over 2,000 homes per year while offsetting 150,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
Around 60 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the UAE come from household and industrial waste decomposing in landfills. Since inauguration, the plant has processed over 100,000 tonnes of waste, equivalent to the waste produced by 180,000 people per year and recovered over 250 tonnes of metal during its operations. As a result, Sharjah has achieved a new record in its zero-waste to landfill journey, achieving a waste diversion rate of 90 percent.
Inaugurated in May 2022, the Sharjah Waste-to-Energy plant is a project of the Emirates Waste-to-Energy joint venture between BEEAH Group, the Middle East’s sustainability pioneer, and Masdar, one of the world’s leading clean energy companies.
“The Sharjah Waste-to-Energy plant demonstrates how clean energy can not only help meet energy demand, but also recover valuable material and tackle the mounting challenge of waste in growing cities across the Middle East,” commented Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO, BEEAH Group.
The plant is ramping up operations to produce 30 MW of power annually, while processing 300,000 tonnes of waste that would otherwise go to landfill. Over a 12-month period, the plant is capable of offsetting 450,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
“We look forward to boosting R&D investment in waste-to-energy projects and working with BEEAH to further accelerate the reduction of global carbon emissions and divert waste from landfills,” remarked Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO, Masdar.
