A Report from Energy Ant — My Trip to the Covanta Waste-to-Energy Plant in Alexandria, VA
Energy Ant and friends in front of Covanta Energy sign
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Public Domain)
Diagram of a waste-to-energy power plant
Source: Covanta Energy (Public Domain)
Energy Ant in front of a garbage pile in the receiving room
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Public Domain)
Energy Ant peaks through the furnace window
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Public Domain)
Energy Ant checks out the control room
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Public Domain)
Today was quite an adventure. I tagged along with a group of summer interns from the U.S. Energy Information Administration to visit the Covanta waste-to-energy power plant in Alexandria, Virginia. This means that Covanta takes garbage and turns it into electricity. Cool.
When we arrived, Covanta employees talked to us about the history and safety requirements at the plant. I learned that Covanta processes 350,000 tons of trash each year! By burning trash, Covanta is able to create enough electricity to power 20,000 houses nearby.
I also learned that Covanta takes safety very seriously. All people who work and visit the plant have to wear a safety helmet, goggles, and earplugs. I felt very safe wearing all of my gear. I just wish they had given me nose plugs too. The garbage was smelly!
After we put on our safety gear, we were ready for a tour of the plant. The first stop was the receiving building. This is the smelliest part of the plant because it’s where the trucks dump the trash. Then they use a big crane to pick up the trash and dump it into a huge furnace.
Next, we climbed down the stairs to get to the control room. Unlike the rest of the plant, the control room is freezing. The control room is filled with all kinds of different gauges and monitors that make sure all of the machines in the plant are running smoothly. The room even has television screens with live video from inside the furnaces! Computers sample the air in the furnace to make sure emissions are as low as possible.
Next, the Plant Manager explained to us that the heat from the burning garbage boils water that is flowing inside boiler tubes. The boiling water creates steam, which turns a turbine-generator to make electricity.
Did You Know ?
The main advantage of burning waste is that it reduces the amount of garbage we bury in landfills.
After learning about the turbine-generator, we checked out the magnet room. In the magnet room, there is a huge magnet shaped like a big barrel. The magnet pulls precious metals from the ash that comes out of the furnace and collects about 25 tons of metal per day. Covanta sells the precious metal for recycling and uses the money to help keep the plant running. You can learn more about how a waste-to-energy plant works in the Biomass section of this site.
I really enjoyed my visit and learned a lot about making energy from waste. But the next time I come to visit, I’m bringing nose plugs! Learn more about waste-to-energy.
