R1 Recovery Facility

An Incinerator qualities as an Energy from Waste (EfW) facility rather than a disposal facility/incinerator if it can meet energy efficiency thresholds to meet an R1 classification which is defined in the Waste Framework Directive.

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Recovery Facility Definition Applied to Energy from Waste

Article 3 of the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) 2008/98/EC defines 'Recovery' as: 'any operation the principal result of which is waste serving a useful purpose by replacing other materials which would otherwise have been used to fulfill a particular function, or waste being prepared to fulfill that function, in the plant or in the wider economy'. Annex II (of the WFD) sets out a non-exhaustive list of recovery operations.

The R1 status of an Incinerator classifies it as an Energy Recovery Facility rather than as a disposal operation such as a D10 operation - incineration on Land.

'Disposal' on the otherhand is defined as: 'any operation which is not recovery even where the operation has as a secondary consequence the reclamation of substances or energy'. Annex I (of the WFD) sets out a non-exhaustive list of disposal operations.

The EU standard sets a requirement to exceed a certain level of power conversion efficiency to qualify it as an R1 facility.

Energy Efficiency Results[1]

The minimum R1 values are:

  • 0.60 for MSW permitted and in operation before 1 January 2009
  • 0.65 for MSW permitted and in operation after 31 December 2008

Qualifying for R1 Status

For a MSW EfW facility to qualify for R1 status it must:

  • Have or will have an Environmental Permit for a waste incineration installation
  • Be capable of incinerating mixed Municipal Solid Waste, including RDF or SRF Waste Derived Fuel
  • Not be a co-incinerator[1]

Only R1 facilities can receive waste derived fuel (WDF) from other EU countries for processing – export to other EU countries for Disposal (for example to an Incinerator that does not have R1 status) is illegal[2].

The formula for calculating the R1 status of a MSW EfW facility is given below:

Pl_{ef} = {{O_{exp}-(E_f+E_{imp})} \ (E_f+E_{imp}+E_{circ})

 all figures as equivalents in accordance to BREF,Chapter 3.5.6

  • Plef = Plant Efficiency.
  • Ef = annual energy input to the system by fuels with steam production (GJ/y)
  • Eimp = annual imported energy (Note: energy from the treated waste (Ew) is not included)
  • Ecirc = annual energy circulated
  • Oexp = annual exported energy (combined total of heat plus electricity as equivalents)

References:

  1. Waste incinerator plant: apply for R1 status.
  2. Guidelines on the Interpretation of the R1 Energy Efficiency Formula for Incineration Facilities Dedicated to the Processing of Municipal Solid waste According to Annex II of Directive 2008/98/EC on Waste. Directorate-General Environment.
  3. R1 Status of Incinerators in England.