Tripoli Peloponnese CASE STUDY

Terna Energy is a power company that plays an active role in the waste management Industry in Greece. They wanted a solution to convert more than 100,000 tons per year of mixed household solid waste into recyclable components, compost and energy sources. They had experience with Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) at other facilities and wanted a solution that could be integrated into multiple recycling streams, a biogas facility and compost outputs. 

MBT is a process in which mixed household waste is put through a contained and controlled composting process, to break down the organic portion of the material before the materials are mechanically sorted into recyclable components, fuel and compostable materials. 

Top priorities for the project included data-based automated process controls, outstanding odor control along with overall material handling efficiency and energy efficiency.

In conjunction with GMT’s partner Compost Systems GmbH, the plant was built to handle more than 100.000 tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) per year, with outputs ranging from recyclable metals and plastics, biogas and compost. 

The Tripoli MBT facility employs sophisticated pre-processing, sorting and post-process separation steps to create various outputs that have economic and agricultural value. The primary phase of the MBT process is done in fully enclosed “CompoBox Tunnels” in which aeration and moisture levels are tightly controlled.

After the primary aeration phase is complete, the compostable materials are separated from other recyclable materials and put through a second stage aerated composting process under membrane-covers that manage moisture and contain odors. 

The TracTurn side discharge turner is used to turn material that are in secondary process, in combination with active aeration and the membrane cover system. Before material is turned the membrane covers are removed with a roller attachment using the same tractor that pushes the TracTurn. 

Compost Systems led the design of the biological process, including odor and emissions management as well the supply of technology and equipment components. The plant in Tripoli is one of four MBT plants that have been built lately by Terna. In the Biogas Combined Heat and Power (CHP) unit, a continuous load of 1.5MW electric energy is produced from a portion of the materials that are processed in this facility.

For more information, visit Compost System's website or review the Reference Sheet.