Dates and Facts

The Entsorgungsverband Saar (EVS) (Waste Disposal Association, Saarland), a joint body of the 52 Saarland local authorities, is in charge of supra-local waste disposal, among other things. This includes the thermal processing of waste in the Saarland.

The Abfallheizkraftwerk Velsen (AVA Velsen) (Waste-to-Energy Heating Plant) is owned by the EVS. The company AVA Velsen GmbH was formed in order to operate the plant. All waste from the Saarland is treated here and the exhaust fumes are cleaned.

The released energy is fed into the public grid as electricity (approx. 50% renewable).

The EVS as well as the EEW Energy from Waste, which specialises in the thermal processing of waste and substitute fuel, are partners of AVA Velsen GmbH.

Specifications / Waste-to-Energy Heating Plant

Equipment: 2 boiler lines with grate firing, 15 tons/hour each. 4-stage flue gas purification

Annual capacity: 225,000 tons of domestic and commercial waste

Power generation: 150,000 MWh, 35,000 MWh of which are for internal consumption

Current output / feeding-in: 115,000 MWh corresponds to the demand for electricity of 35,000 households

Construction costs (1998): DEM 397m (EUR 203m)