Dubai set to open world’s largest waste-to-energy plant next year

Dubai Waste Management Centre will process 5.6k tonnes solid waste per day, converting 45% of the emirate’s municipal waste into renewable energy, feeding grid with 215 MWh clean energy

Dubai Municipality announced this week that its new Dubai Waste Management Centre (DWMC) is 85 percent complete. The DWMC will convert 45 percent of the emirate’s municipal waste into renewable energy.

A first phase of the project operating at 40 percent will be complete next year, while full operations are planned to begin in 2024. Once fully operational, the plant’s renewable energy, generated from treating waste, will feed the local electricity grid with 215 MWh of clean energy.

DWMC will be the largest waste-to-energy project in the world, according to a statement from Dubai Municipality. Construction began in 2021, deploying Japanese and Swiss technologies for the treatment process, according to the statement.

Energy & Utilities reported on the project's financing and equipment suppliers last year. 

The first phase will operate two of the plant’s five treatment lines, processing 2,000 tonnes of solid waste to produce 80 MWh of renewable energy. The facility’s generator and steam turbine have already been installed.

The centre will receive around 1,000 truckloads of waste daily, with a capacity to accommodate 88 trucks per hour. Through five treatment lines, the DWMC will have the capacity to process 5,666 tonnes of solid municipal waste per day, with more than 12,000 air filters to treat emissions. Burnt waste will produce around 1,000 tonnes of bottom ash, which will be recycled and used in infrastructure projects.

The centre’s operation will involve receiving and treating waste, utilizing the resulting steam pressure to operate the steam turbine, producing enough energy to power the electric generator.

Located in Dubai’s industrial Al Warsan area, the plant covers an area of 400,000 square meters.  

"With the world’s largest operational capacity, DWMC will process 1.9 million tonnes of waste annually and convert it into renewable energy, generating enough energy to power 135,000 homes," said Dawoud Al Hajri, Director-General of Dubai Municipality.

Dubai Municipality has developed an integrated 20-year strategic plan for solid waste management. The project will contribute to the municipality’s objective of reducing and completely diverting waste from landfills by 2030.

E&U reported last year on several waste-to-energy projects in GCC countries.