World’s largest Energy-from-Waste facility with an annual capacity of 1.9 million tonnes of waste – Warsan Waste Management Centre, is being produced by Warsan Waste Management Company (WWMC) in Dubai. The plant, now fully operational is undergoing final tests before handing over to Shoualah, the O+M contractor. WWMC has implemented enhanced safety measures for the summer and achieved 9.5 million injury-free hours. Shoualah will assume operations in August.
How does your extensive experience influence your strategy at WWMC?
Tim Clarke: Leveraging my experience from being involved in many major projects, the key thing with any major project is managing the constraints, particularly those imposed by World Bank financing and international funding. We are funded primarily by JBIC and NEXI Senior loans, so there are many criteria regarding the standards that need to be applied to the plant.
It must comply with global standards in aspects such as emissions, noise, impact on neighbours, environmental impact, and overall efficiency. Aligned with these requirements, the municipality has also set specifications for the plant.
That is the main lesson from my experience – ensuring the project fits the overall requirements of all stakeholders, which is often a challenging task. My experience over the years has equipped me to communicate effectively with the various stakeholders. It is essential to explain what we are doing, why it is being built, and how it will benefit the local community. Since this project is based on sustainability, it must bring improvements to the local neighbours.
How do you view the role of Energy-from-Waste in comparison to other clean energy sources?
The CO2 or CO2 equivalent emissions from waste in landfills are greater than the CO2 emissions if you combust the waste to produce energy. So, we play a role in the recycling 5R’s triangle— Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle, Recover. Operating at the Recovery stage, we recover energy and metals from the remaining waste when nothing else can be recycled.
The project overall reduces UAE CO2 emissions by 65 million tonnes over the 35-year life. For example, we produce about 10% ash products from the process. So, from 5,500 tonnes of waste processed per day, we produce around 600 tonnes of ash material and about 150 tonnes of metals, all of which go into recycling. This effectively diverts 5,500 tonnes of waste per day from going to landfill.
This approach offers a sustainable way of preserving the quality of life in Dubai until we can eliminate waste from our processes entirely. We are here to bridge the gap between the current way society operates, burying waste in landfills, and a future where we can hopefully eliminate most waste. It is a transitional plan towards a more sustainable future over the next 50 years. For now, Energy-from-Waste is the most sustainable way to deal with Dubai society’s generated solid waste.
WWMC is currently being built as the world’s largest Energy-from-Waste facility. How do you provide a competitive edge, and how does this project align with the UAE Green Agenda 2030?
Tim Clarke: We are not really in a competitive environment because this plant has been built to meet the specific requirements of Dubai Municipality. They have contracted with us for 35 years to handle 5,500 tonnes of waste per day, which accounts for about 45% of all waste produced in Dubai.
We operate in a one-to-one relationship with Dubai Municipality. They supply us with waste, and the electricity we generate, along with the ash we produce, is returned to Dubai Municipality. The municipality then resells the power to DEWA and the ash is primarily expected to be used in road construction.
Regarding the UAE Green Agenda 2030, our plant is a key component of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid’s Sustainable Dubai Development Initiative, which aims to reduce Dubai’s environmental impact over the next 20 years. As part of this initiative, Dubai Municipality has committed to achieving zero landfill by 2030. Our plant is the primary means for Dubai Municipality to meet its zero-landfill target by 2030.
What do you believe are the key factors that can help achieve the goal by 2030?
Tim Clarke: We ensure that our plant’s capacity is maintained to process at least 5,500 tonnes of waste per day. If Dubai Municipality needs to send more, we expect to be able to handle the additional waste, within the limits of our plant’s capacity, which is influenced by the heat value of the waste.
One challenge in Dubai is the high plastic content in the waste, which increases the calorific value. Currently, we process general waste exactly as it is discarded, but our plant is designed to accommodate a lower calorific value if needed. This means we could handle a greater volume of waste if recycling leads to changes in the waste composition delivered to our plant.
Given that recycling practices in the GCC region aren’t as advanced as, for instance, Europe, what steps can be taken to improve recycling here, and what key factors will drive this change?
Tim Clarke: While I can’t speak on behalf of Dubai Municipality, it is clear from global examples that segregation at the source is an effective approach. In places like the US, Europe, and the Far East, it is common for households to have multiple waste bins for different types of waste.
Another key factor is viewing waste as a resource rather than a burden. For instance, the 5,500 tonnes of material delivered to our plant daily includes plastics and metals, which can be recycled. By focusing on exploiting these resources, we can significantly reduce the amount of waste that requires combustion.
Currently, there are limited outlets for recycled materials in the UAE, so part of the solution must involve encouraging companies to set up in the region to utilize these materials. In Europe, for example, recycled plastics are often used in products like playground equipment.
Additionally, there is a growing interest in sustainable fuel, which the UAE is exploring, especially as airlines like Emirates and Etihad will need sustainable fuel to meet international requirements by 2026.
Even in the UK, there are projects where buses are powered by biodiesel, such as that developed by Barking Garage. Do you think similar projects will be implemented in the UAE soon?
Tim Clarke: I can’t predict whether similar initiatives will be introduced here, but there are certainly many opportunities. Dubai Municipality is under considerable pressure from the government to explore these options.
I believe sustainable aviation fuel is the most likely to be developed soon. It is crucial for Emirates and Etihad Airlines, important for Dubai Municipality’s waste management, and necessary for the UAE government to meet its COP28 and other environmental commitments. So, in the short term, that is probably the most likely project to take off.
Currently, your company is set to convert nearly 2 million tonnes of waste per year. Based on your success, what advice would you give to similar companies in the region to succeed in this sector?
Tim Clarke: The key to succeeding with any energy-from-waste plant is first securing a reliable fuel supply—in this case, waste. This process must be done in coordination with local authorities, such as Dubai Municipality or the Abu Dhabi government. Sharjah has already established its own energy-from-waste plant, and I expect other Emirates may follow suit.
For anyone looking to develop a similar plant here, the first step is to identify your fuel source and negotiate an agreement with the owner of the waste. Once you have a secure fuel supply, it becomes much easier to move forward with building a plant, whether it is for energy production or recycling.
The primary challenge isn’t the technical aspects of the plant but rather establishing a strong relationship with the relevant authorities, like Dubai Municipality. This is why our facility took about eight or nine years to develop—it required extensive negotiations and alignment with the municipality’s goals.
In terms of output, our facility produces 195 megawatts of power, enough to supply around 135,000 homes. This power is sold back to Dubai Municipality, which then resells most of it to DEWA for distribution into the grid.
You mentioned that the project has been in development for almost 10 years. What have been the main challenges you’ve encountered?
Tim Clarke: The project has indeed been in development for around 10 years, but actual construction began in July 2020, right in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. Despite a four-year construction timeline, we have managed to complete the project on schedule by July 2024.
Given that this is a billion-dollar project, we had to mobilize global resources for various components. For instance, boiler and air condenser parts came from China, motors and drives from Europe, steelwork from the Middle East, and auxiliary equipment from India.
The global supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19 created significant challenges. For example, in 2021, we faced difficulties securing space on vessels for transporting materials. To overcome this, we had to charter ships to collect equipment from China.
Additionally, some production facilities in other countries experienced restrictions, affecting their ability to manufacture components. We had to adapt our program, change suppliers, and reroute components to keep the project on track, although not always in the manner initially planned before the pandemic.
Managing the main contractor to deliver on time and within budget is another typical challenge for projects of this scale, but we have successfully addressed that as well. We have also maintained an exemplary safety record with minimal harm to employees and almost zero environmental impact during construction.
What partnership opportunities do you see for international or local investors interested in your company?
Tim Clarke: Currently, there isn’t an opportunity to invest in our company. We are a privately owned entity with six major shareholders. Since this is an infrastructure project, Dubai regulations require that 51% of the company be owned by Dubai-based entities. We have two Dubai-based companies holding this local majority, while the remaining 49% is owned by four international investors, including two construction companies.
However, there are numerous other potential projects in the region for investors to explore.
There are currently around 30 to 40 energy-from-waste projects in the Middle East, North Africa, and nearby regions that are set to be developed over the next four to five years. Waste management is a global challenge, and the demand for solutions is significant.
Why is it important to invest in Energy-from-Waste projects?
Tim Clarke: By investing in Energy-from-Waste projects, a country can address waste issues, reduce emissions, and enhance energy supply. It is a well-rounded sustainability project for any nation that needs power, has a waste problem, and is conscious of environmental emissions. That is why investing in Energy-from-Waste is a crucial step for sustainability in any country.
