ENERGY POTENTIAL FROM RESIDUES IN NORTHERN CENTRAL EUROPEAN REGIONS

In this paper the results of a study on the energy potential of residual materials in 5 regions in the Northern Central European area are presented. The highest potential for waste-to-energy is provided by the incineration of municipal residual waste and the digestion of manure. Related to the number of inhabitants, the potential is the highest in North Savo, whereas the current utilisation is by far the highest in the County of Vastmanland. The total potential of waste-to-energy for the considered regions is the highest for Western Lithuania at app. 7%, with the other regions varying between 2,5 and 4% of the total primary energy use. The following waste-to-energy installations should be planned: waste incinerators (Estonia, Western Lithuania and Lower Silesia); energy recovery from waste derived fuels (North Savo, Lower Silesia and the County of Vastmanland); anaerobic digestion of biodegradable part of municipal waste and of agricultural waste and by-products (Lower Silesia) as well as sewage sludge drying in Western Lithuania and Lower Silesia.