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The REMONDIS Group’s locations
Discover the world of REMONDIS with its approx. 900 branches and associated companies in over 30 countries across Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.
SRF – A Green Alternative
Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) is derived from diverse waste sources, including household and business waste containing biodegradable materials like wood and plastics. At treatment plants, these wastes undergo thorough processing involving drying, filtering, shredding, and optical sorting to remove non-combustible minerals such as stones, glass, and metals, as well as harmful substances like chlorine. SRF serves as a sustainable alternative in cement plants, coal-fired power plants, and industrial boilers, displacing fossil fuels like coal and significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
This transformational role in energy production is exemplified by REMONDIS, a leader in Europe's waste management sector, which focuses heavily on the production and combustion of SRFs. By turning waste into valuable energy, REMONDIS not only helps to reduce landfill usage but also contributes to a cleaner, more sustainable future. These fuels, derived from high-heat-value waste that would otherwise be landfilled or incinerated, effectively replace coal, emitting a fraction of its carbon emissions.
SRF vs. RDF: Understanding the Difference
SRF Production Flow
At REMONDIS, we derive Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) from a variety of waste sources, including household and business waste containing biodegradable materials like wood and plastics. Our process carefully refines these materials to remove non-combustible and harmful substances, ensuring a high-quality fuel product.
SRF serves as a sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuels and is used in cement plants, coal-fired power plants, and industrial boilers, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This transformational role in energy production underscores REMONDIS' commitment to leading Europe's waste management sector with innovative solutions that promote environmental sustainability and resource efficiency.
Join us in transforming waste into valuable resources and shaping the future!
Our new SRF Project in Changhua
max. 100,000 tons waste processed
max. 90,000 tons SRF produced
max. 75,000 tons of coal carbon saved
The SRF plant in Changhua represents a pioneering project led by REMONDIS Taiwan. As a joint venture with the LeaLea Group, it can process up to 100,000 tons of commercial and industrial waste annually starting in 2026. The plant focuses on producing stable, high-quality SRF using advanced German technology, ensuring precision and reliability. Its flexibility allows it to handle diverse waste streams with varying impurities, guaranteeing efficient and clean fuel production. Waste types high in chlorine, heavy metal, or sand content are no problem for the treatment equipment. Additionally, the SRF plant excels in environmental benefits, economic efficiency and resource conservation, making it a model for sustainable waste management in Taiwan.
SRF Plants in Germany
GWA RE Lünen
Operation start: 2023
Area: 11,000 m2
Input: 180,000 t/a MSW, commercial waste, and bulky waste to SRF
Output: 50,000 t/a to cement kilns and power plants
Max. treatment capacity MSW: 70 t/h
Max. treatment capacity commercial waste: 40 t/h
RELO Meschede
Operation start: 2005
Area: 20,000 m2
Input: 145,000 t/a MSW & bulky waste & plastic sorting plant residues
Output: 70,000 t/a SRF
SRF provided to cement kiln and coal power plant
SRF: 2,400-5,250 kcal/kg
MBT Erftstadt
Operation start: 2005
Area: 35,000 m2
Input: 130,000 t/a MSW & commercial waste
Output: 70,000 t/a SRF to coal-fired power plant nearby; rest to cement companies
Power plant CO2 reduction 60,000-70,000 t/a
SRF: 6,430 kcal/kg
Environmental Benefits of SRF
The REMONDIS Erftstadt MBT Plant has proven over 20 years that for each ton of SRF produced, 1 ton of CO₂ emissions could be saved at the place of the coal-fired power plant which receives the SRF.
This impressive feat is due to the biogenic materials in SRF, like wood and paper, which capture carbon from the atmosphere as they grow. Unlike fossil fuels that release carbon trapped for millennia, SRF taps into the natural carbon cycle, making it a much greener alternative. In fact, SRF's carbon emissions can be as low as those of natural gas, though they do vary based on the source material and specific product.
Energy specific CO₂ emissions of different fuels
- CO₂ reduction: ≥ 1 t CO₂/TJ: BPG/SBS®2, SBS®1 or BIOBS (substitution of lignite), emission factors of SRF certified according to RAL-GZ 727
- No import dependency of SRF
Future Outlook
Our Vision for Sustainability in Taiwan
Promoting efficient SRF combustion
We aim to promote the combustion of loose and fluffy SRF over pellets, as this method can improve efficiency and reduce processing costs. By adopting this approach, we enhance overall combustion performance and reduce energy consumption, leading to more cost-effective and sustainable operations.
Optimizing SRF boiler ash reuse
In Taiwan, the Regulations Governing the Reuse of Industrial Waste by the Ministry of Economic Affairs limit boiler ash to a 5% co-combustion rate. Specifically, coal-fired power plant boilers co-firing with less than 5% (by weight) of waste-derived fuel or biomass fuel can reuse their ash without additional approval. Higher amounts require individual approval and increased disposal costs, restricting broader SRF use in boilers. Our vision is to advocate for policy changes to allow higher co-combustion rates without extra approvals, promoting its use in Controlled Low-Strength Material (CLSM), Cement and Aggregate for maritime engineering as a construction aggregate. This would enhance waste management, support resource recovery, and contribute to a circular economy.
Seeing SRF as essential part of the energy policy
In Germany, based on estimations from 2018, waste can contribute with around 5% to the total electricity consumption per year until 2030. That means that SRF and the thermal usage of wastes in general can produce 5% of the total electricity demand (2022: 467,000,000 MWh) of Germany. And we do not mention heat here which will be an even larger share. This can only be reached by including the SRF potential of MSW. The construction of large-scale MBT plants needs to be pushed further to use the full potential of Taiwan’s waste for the production of energy.
Stable quality is key
Inevitably, competition for “Clean” wastes for SRF production will increase, lowering the average quality of SRF in Taiwan. SRF users must prepare for this decline, potentially requiring investments in alternative feed-in systems and better air pollution control. Additionally, Taiwan's SRF plants need to handle diverse waste types daily to maintain a stable, coal-comparable quality, necessitating investments in advanced treatment equipment like sieves, eddy currents, and other sorting technologies.
Our Strategic Steps
Operationalizing our factory
Our top priority is to bring our factory into full operation. This involves completing construction, installing advanced SRF technology, and ensuring all systems are functional. Our goal is to begin production quickly, thereby contributing to Taiwan's renewable energy landscape as soon as possible.
Introducing certification association
We plan to contribute to the establishment of an association in Taiwan that provides SRF certification. This association will set standards and ensure compliance, ensuring high-quality and safe operations across the industry.
Expanding partnerships and collaboration
We aim to build strong partnerships with governments, industry stakeholders, and research institutions. Collaboration will drive innovation, enhance technology transfer, and create a robust ecosystem for the SRF sector.
