Study “WasteCCUS” on the role of CCUS in municipal solid waste incineration
The project examines the integration of CO₂ capture technologies into municipal solid waste incineration plants, taking into account technical, economic and social factors.
The WasteCCUS study examines how carbon capture, utilization and storage technologies (CCUS) could help significantly reduce the approximately 2.6 million tonnes of CO₂ emitted annually from Austria’s 12 municipal solid waste incineration plants. These emissions are considered difficult to avoid due to increasing waste volumes and a lack of alternatives, and have increased by more than 50 percent since 2010.
CCUS is technically retrofittable, energy-intensive, and expensive. The project analysed various scenarios regarding energy demand, CO₂ prices, economic viability, and social impacts. Amines-based scrubbers are considered the most suitable option, but their operation requires about one third of the current energy production of a municipal solid waste incineration plant. The costs of CO₂ capture are estimated at €103–234 per tonne of CO₂ and, if passed on, would significantly increase household residual waste fees.
Politically, CCUS is becoming increasingly relevant due to Austria’s 2024 Carbon Management Strategy, new reporting obligations, and potential inclusion in the EU Emissions Trading System from 2028.
The researchers recommend the construction of a demonstration plant to test technical, economic and societal questions under real conditions. International examples show that such pilot projects have already been successfully implemented.
The project was coordinated by BEST – Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies GmbH and scientifically supported by the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU).