The course is dedicated to the environmental and engineering aspects involved in the energy exploitation of biomass and waste materials. The course will provide students with the knowledge on the potential, the current use, the constraints and the limitations of biomass and waste valorisation for energy purposes. Thanks to such knowledge, students will be able to critically analyse a variety of energy conversion processes for waste and biomass valorisation, as well as to preliminary design some of them.

After passing the exam, the student will:
a) know the characteristics of waste/biomass and understand a laboratory report
b) understand and apply the proper legislation on waste and biomass
c) be able to analyse and understand waste/biomass-based processes from the energy, technical and economic points of view
d) understand the operation of a waste sorting and recycling plant
e) understand and control the environmental impacts of waste-to-energy and biomass-to-energy facilities
f) be able to critically assess different options of waste management

The class will be organized in lectures, precepts and seminars. A field visit will be arranged to biomass-/waste-to-energy plants.

The course is structured according to two modules:

099249 - Bio- WtE Tech: Energy Aspects

099250 - Bio- WtE Tech: Environmental Aspects

The contents of the two modules can be found in the respective descriptions.

Students who are going to attend the course are expected to have rooted bases in chemistry and thermodynamics, as well as some elements of economics.

Course structure and examinations

The class is organized in lectures, precepts and seminars. A field visit will be arranged to biomass-/waste-to-energy plants.

The evaluation will be based on the result of a mandatory final written exam and an optional interview. The interview can change only slightly the result of the written test, and its access is subjected to the satisfactory accomplishment of the written test (i.e. score >= 18/30).
An optional midterm exam will be held around the middle of the semester. A positive result in the midterm exam will substitute the first half of the written exams held during the winter exam session.
Through the exam, the student must:
a) demonstrate to know the characteristics of waste/biomass and show the capability to understand a laboratory report;
b) show knowledge and understanding of the proper legislation on waste and biomass;
c) discuss waste/biomass-based processes by describing in qualitative and quantitative forms their energy, technical and economic performances;
d) demonstrate understanding of the operation of waste sorting and recycling plants;
e) show knowledge and be able to control the environmental impacts of waste-to-energy and biomass-to-energy facilities
f) be able to critically assess different options of waste management.