The Sharjah Waste-to-Energy Project has strengthened its efforts to contribute to the production of clean energy

The first project of its sort in the Middle East, the Sharjah garbage-to-Energy Project, has increased its efforts to divert garbage from landfills and support the creation of renewable energy. The plant's waste diversion rate has improved from 76% to 90% since its opening a year ago, coinciding with the UAE's objective of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 and diversifying the energy mix. Ahead of the upcoming 28th Conference of the Parties (COP 28), which the UAE will host in November, this important accomplishment enables Bee'ah and its strategic partner "Masdar" to share their success story.

Nouf Mohamad Jamal Wazir, senior engineer at BEEAH Energy, a BEEAH Group subsidiary, stated in an interview with the Emirates News Agency (WAM) that the plant, which cost US$200 million to build, is currently investigating opportunities for expansion and the establishment of similar plants in other Emirates. Numerous queries have been made to the facility from organisations around the nation looking to duplicate the Sharjah Waste-to-Energy facility's performance. Additionally, petitions with comparable goals have come from other nations. She stressed that the Sharjah plant's architecture allowed for future growth if necessary and emphasised the important role Emirati engineers played in the project's development, construction, and operation. Wazir further said that by connecting the plant to the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority's grid, the facility has produced enough electricity in only one year to power 2,000 households in Sharjah. The facility has also replaced 150,000 tonnes of damaging carbon dioxide emissions.

When the facility is fully operating, it will contribute to the yearly conversion of approximately 300,000 tonnes of garbage into energy, generating 30 megawatts (MW) of low-carbon electricity—nearly enough to power 28,000 houses in the UAE. The project will also boost the nation's efforts to fulfil its strategic objective to attain climate neutrality by 2050 by assisting in the prevention of up to 450,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions yearly. This project promotes environmental protection efforts, sustainability initiatives, and raising sustainable living conditions throughout the Emirate and the area.

Engineer Nouf from the Emirate of Abu Dhabi showed how the facility operates by digesting non-recyclable garbage at high temperatures and recovering the heat in a boiler. The steam from the boiler is then used to turn a turbine and generate energy. In order to recover metals and to provide ash material that may be utilised in construction and roadworks applications, bottom ash created during the operation is collected. Additionally, fly ash is gathered and handled differently.

The factory, which has an area of 80,000 square metres, is next to the integrated waste management facility run by Bee'ah Recycling, the company that handles recycling and material recovery for Bee'ah Group. The Sharjah garbage to Energy facility will be used to treat non-recyclable garbage from the waste management complex.