UAE requests bids to build another waste-to-energy power plant

The United Arab Emirates wants to build another waste-to-energy power plant. 

The Emirates Water and Electricity Company and Abu Dhabi Waste Management Center are asking for proposals to build a waste-to-energy facility near the Al Dhafra landfill in Abu Dhabi. Authorities plan for the facility to handle 900,000 tons of waste per year and power 52,500 households, the official Emirates News Agency reported today. 

The developer will own 40% of the facility, with the rest being owned by the government of Abu Dhabi, according to the agency. 

What is it: Waste-to-energy power plants convert garbage into energy by burning it. They can successfully convert most waste into energy, thereby reducing the amount in landfills. 

Waste-to-energy power plants typically require carbon to operate, and some environmental watchdogs believe they emit more carbon than other energy facilities. 

Why it matters: This will not be the first waste-to-energy facility in the UAE. In May, the Emirati renewable energy company Masdar unveiled a waste-to-energy power plant in the city of Sharjah. 

Know more: Emirati authorities are pursuing a variety of strategies to improve their environmental record. This week, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company signed an agreement with a French company to work on carbon capture. 

What’s next: The Emirates Water and Electricity Company and Abu Dhabi Waste Management Center expect to receive the proposals for the waste-to-energy facility by the end of 2022.