M.S. Thesis: Potential for Combined Heat and Power and District Heating and Cooling from Waste-to-Energy
Facilities in the U.S. – Learning from the Danish Experience
By Priscilla Ulloa
Advisor: Prof. Nickolas J. Themelis
Co-Advisor: Bettina Kamuk
Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering
Fu Foundation School of Engineering & Applied Science
Columbia University
May 2007
The objective of this study is (1) to examine the current situation of the district heating in the U.S. and (2) to present the technical and economic aspects of applying DH to existing WTE facilities located in Connecticut: the Wheelabrator Bridgeport, Covanta Preston, and Covanta Hartford facilities. These facilities were chosen because of their location in the northeastern region, where energy prices and population density are relatively high and encourage such a project. The study presents the advantages and disadvantages of retrofitting these plants to co-generate heat and power and provide DH to their region. Hence, a preliminary evaluation was conducted of DH application at these three facilities.