Reflective Writing: Waste-to-Energy and Sustainable Energy (EMS 3)

This reflective writing assignment explores the increasing challenges of waste disposal and the depletion of fossil fuels, highlighting the emergence of waste-to-energy (WTE) as a crucial solution. The author discusses the potential of WTE technologies, including anaerobic digestion (AD) and digestate pyrolysis, as promising alternatives for energy production, especially from agricultural residues. The assignment emphasizes the importance of WTE in addressing environmental issues, enhancing waste management, and controlling greenhouse gas emissions. The author reflects on the diverse WTE technologies like bio-heating, incineration, and co-digestion, which convert bio-based wastes into fuel and energy, contributing to environmental sustainability. The author concludes by expressing hope that implementing the knowledge gained from relevant journals will improve environmental quality and foster economic growth, essential for resolving issues between greening and growth. The assignment references several key articles on the subject.

EMS 1
Reflective writing
The increase of population is increasing the human waste and the disposal places are
becoming limited. Environmental hazards are being experienced with improper disposal of the
wastes and this has led to the waste-to-energy (WTE) supply chain as a method of reducing the
environmental issues (Monlau, et al., 2014). The energy sector is facing shortage since the coal
sources are being depleted and new methods need to be devised. In addition, other concepts such
as energy recovery from agricultural residues through anaerobic reactions (AD) have taken the
shape to enhance the generation of electricity with increased demand (Shu-Yuan et al., 2014).
The AD technology is looking a promising alternative for the depleting fossil fuel sources in the
world.
From the journal on Applied Energy, it is clear that the AD are promising future of
energy sector regardless of the several setbacks which the method has. The main focus is just
needed on the production methods of the energy and it will be able to provide massive benefits. I
was able to note that different materials can be used for the production of the energy (Abadie,
Ortiz and Galarraga, 2012 and Monlau et al., 2013). Combining anaerobic digestion and
digestate pyrolysis can be a future where the fossil fuels will not be needed. Almost all the
agricultural wastes can be used for the energy production and therefore enhance the
sustainability. All these are wastes and they bring out the idea of WTE in energy production
(Monlau, et al., 2014). Moreover, the idea of WTE is bigger than the agricultural sector and is
able to extend to other wastes, which are disposed out and be used in energy production. With an
increase in demand, the article is able to teach that the WTE is applied to cater for the additional
demand, enhance the waste management and control of greenhouse gas emission (Shu-Yuan et
al., 2014). For me it is clear that there are different WTE technologies, which can be employed,

EMS 2
top enhance the energy production and control of waste management. Bio-heating, incineration
and co-digestion are some of the key technologies which enhance the idea of WTE. I was able to
realize that all these technologies are able to convert the bio-based wastes into bio-based fuel and
energy.
The knowledge on the different alternative methods of energy provision is much
nourishing considering the way the wastes is able to affect our immediate environment. With the
increased focus to increase the environmental sustainability, the WTE and AD are future of
energy sources in the world. This knowledge is essential for entrepreneurs to help them develop
energy for their communities with the available resources. I am able to hope that the
implementation of the knowledge on these journals will help in enhancing the environment
quality and enhance the economic growth. This will be critical to resolve issues, which arise
between greening and growth.

EMS 3
References
Abadie, L.M., Ortiz, R.A ., Galarraga, I. (2012). Determinants of energy efficiency investments
in the US. Energy Policy 45, 551 e566 .
Monlau F, Barakat A, Trably E, Dumas C, Steyer JP, Carrere H. (2013). Lignocellulosic
materials into biohydrogen and biomethane: impact of structural features and
pretreatment. Critical Rev Environ Sci Technol;43:260–322.
Monlau, F., Sambusiti, C., Antoniou, N., Barakat, A., and Zabaniotou, A. (2014). A new
concept for enhancing energy recovery from agricultural residues by coupling anaerobic
digestion and pyrolysis process. Elsevier. Journal of Applied Energy 148 (2015) 32–38
Shu-Yuan P, Michael A. D., I-Te H., I-Hung L., E-E Chang and Pen-Chi C., (2014). Strategies
on implementation of waste-to-energy (W TE) supply chain for circular economy system:
a review. Elsevier Journal of Cleaner Production 108 (2015) 409e 421