Study on Information Sharing and Stable Steam Supply and Demand System to Promote the Use of Heat Recovered From Waste Incineration Process in Industries

Abstract

To prevent climate change, the movement toward early realization of carbon neutral society is accelerating in Japan and in the world. If steam supply from waste incinerators to manufacturing plants becomes common, it would be effective from the viewpoint of efficient reduction of CO₂ emission from the industrial sector and efficient utilization of waste. However, implementation of such a system has been rare in Japan. Therefore, we have conducted a study aiming the examination and demonstration of a challenge to promote the commercialization of steam supply projects by sharing information with potential stakeholders of the projects. Then, we proposed a system for stable steam supply, which is a barrier to the commercialization of steam supply projects, and evaluated its feasibility in terms of economy. Out of the 40 institutions that were provided information and interviewed, 37 institutions showed high interest in commercialization, and 28 institutions were conducting or supporting feasibility studies for commercialization as of December 1st in 2021. Thus, it was found that information sharing would promote the efforts for commercialization. It was also shown that the mechanism of stable steam supply could be economically introduced.