Waste-to-energy: Overview
Rubbish, residues and spent oil turned back into energy
What this tile covers Getting energy from rubbish, residues and spent oils. Share of use 0.4% share of final energy use supplied (2025)Share of world final energy use (about 435 EJ, the same denominator as Conversion and use) supplied by recovered or reused energy, where a global figure exists; most methods have no global total and are left null Over 3,100 plants with more than 640 Mt a year of capacity (ecoprog, end-2025); at an assumed 10 MJ/kg (residual waste ranges about 8-16 MJ/kg) and 25% useful power and heat output, about 1.6 EJ a year (calculated). Uses capacity, not throughput, so on the high side. About 1.6 EJ a year, divided by world final energy use of about 435 EJ (calculated). Source: Waste-to-energy: global growth, market downturn in China (reporting ecoprog, Waste to Energy 2025/2026), Renewable Energy Magazine.
Key facts
| Waste energy | Fuel |
Included from the reference tables
- Waste-to-energy incineration
- RDF and co-processing in cement kilns
- Pyrolysis and gasification of waste
- Used oil re-refining
- Agricultural residue use
Also in Pressure, motion and waste fuels
TX Pressure and flow recoveryRgn Regenerative braking and motion recoveryFlr Flare and off-gas recoveryCold LNG cold and cryogenic recoveryExplore paths from here
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