CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
We're pleased to announce the fourth biennial Energy from Waste Conference will be held in Melbourne from 17-18 August 2021, and we want to hear from you.
Spanning myriad thermal and non-thermal technologies, from anaerobic digestion to gasification to processed engineered fuel, Energy from Waste (EfW)- also known as Waste to Energy (WtE) - can play a significant role in an integrated waste management and resource recovery system by harnessing energy from residual material, as proven in Europe, Asia, and the US. It is also a key piece in the emissions puzzle, driving our aspirations for a net zero future to reality.
The theme for the 2021 conference is “The role of EfW in delivering a net zero future”, and the conference aims to bring industry experts to the table to uncover pathways that will lead us to a low-carbon future. It will also focus on the regulatory landscape, planning and development, stakeholder engagement, and technology and innovation – the factors that are all the more pertinent today as proponents move forward in their EfW journey and more projects start to come online across Australia.
WMRR is now calling for abstracts under the following topics:
EfW regulatory policy settings (all technologies)
• How can different EfW technologies contribute to a more circular economy?
• Australian State policy and regulatory settings (differences and impact)
• Local Government’s role in delivering (infrastructure, policy, business case and community support, regional versus local solutions)
• Infrastructure planning and approvals - challenges and opportunities
• Establishing an EfW test for integrated planning approvals processes
• International Best Practice, including what the waste management practices and policy settings are in mature, successful EfW countries/regions (e.g. Europe, Japan)
• Barriers to policy settings that enable EfW to establish in Australia
• A changing policy landscape – what could organic waste diversion, climate change and sustainable finance policies and outcomes mean for different EfW technologies in Australia and internationally?
• Definitions and risk approaches for residual waste, including impacts on waste supply, output uses and what upstream policies could assist with better outcomes? (eg policies on product design and waste collections)
How to successfully develop an EfW project (all technologies)
• Strategy and vision, including accurate consideration of existing waste management activity and implications arising
• Finance sector’s role in driving and delivering projects
• Public financial policy implications (for example, how have grants or subsidies assisted AD establishment internationally? What options are available in Australia?)
• Planning, approvals, licensing and design
• Waste input supply
• Outputs: weighing up the options
• Procurement (lessons learned and best practice approaches)
• Constructability in Australia
• Risk management
• International case studies
• Residuals management for recovery or disposal (e.g. biochar, bottom ash, flue gas clean-up residues, anaerobic digestates)
• Addressing council and community concerns
Best Practice in Mainstream technologies (combustion and AD)
• Case studies on the successful development, construction, operation and residuals management approaches (including facilities of different scales and waste types)
• Meeting other sectors’ needs, for example, what are key agricultural and construction sectors’ needs and how could EfW outputs assist?
Stakeholder engagement
• Community consultation and education – why the social licence to operate is so important
• Learnings from overseas experiences
• Locating different EfW facilities
• Overcoming perceptions through engagement and information
• Government and regulator engagement
• The role of politics in EfW markets
• Examples of successful campaigns in Australia
Integrating EfW into infrastructure planning
• How can EfW complement or influence existing recovery options (e.g. composting)?
• Procurement of feedstock – contracting structure, volume, and disposal options for residuals
• Energy and heat
• Resource Recovery precincts
• Smart cities
• Sustainable infrastructure (GHG & life-cycle analysis)
• The role of waste infrastructure planning in a merchant facilities market
How to successfully build and operate EfW plants (all technologies)
• Case studies (local and overseas) and learnings
• Key elements to successful construction and operation
• Role of the operations and maintenance team
• Pre-treatment / preparation, and materials handling
• Mitigating carbon emissions from EfW facilities
• Role of the technology provider
• Key elements to control in operation
• Potential problems and how to mitigate them
• Asset management including end-of-life
• Reporting obligations
New technologies and innovation
• Gas cleaning, air quality and emissions
• Emerging residues treatment and recovery options
• Pyrolysis, gasification, combustion technologies
• Smaller EfW facilities for regional Australia
• Case studies on low/zero carbon EfW
• Pre-treatment/preparation and materials handling
Submissions will need to meet the criteria of relevance, originality and audience appeal. Abstracts received outside the topics listed may be considered by the discretion of the program committee.
SUMBISSION CLOSE THURSDAY, 20 MAY 2021
To submit an abstract click here.