Imagine a city where your leftovers, garden trimmings, and paper waste don’t just end up in a landfill but help keep the lights on. That’s the promise explored in “Carbon reduction and cost analysis in solar-biomass synergy for UAE’s 2030 energy transition”, a new study conducted with the GridApp by Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII) that asks how we can turn waste into a reliable, renewable power source that strengthens the grid instead of burdening it.
Around the world, rapid urbanisation and growing populations are generating unprecedented volumes of waste. In parallel, nations accelerating their shift to renewable energy, particularly solar, are encountering new challenges. Solar power, while abundant and clean, is inherently variable, with output fluctuating by time of day and weather conditions. Without a reliable backup, these fluctuations can create instability in national grids.
This is where bioenergy can play a vital role. Unlike intermittent sources, bioenergy is dispatchable, meaning it can be switched on when needed to balance the grid. In other words, it acts as a reliable partner to the more variable forms of renewable energy. Using its GridApp platform, TII researchers modelled how the UAE’s organic and municipal waste could be harnessed to produce electricity and heat.
The results show clear potential; combining solar power with biomass significantly lowers the levelized cost of electricity and annual fuel costs, while also achieving substantial reductions in carbon emissions, positioning waste-to-energy as a vital component of the country’s sustainable energy future.
Beyond their technical viability, these systems offer two key advantages that support both environmental goals and energy resilience. First, diverting waste from landfills reduces methane emissions, cutting one of the most damaging contributors to climate change. Second, turning that waste into energy helps displace fossil fuel consumption, leading to a cleaner and more resilient energy mix overall. The study by TII also underscored the role of these systems in delivering stable, controllable energy during periods when solar generation dips, helping ensure that the grid remains balanced and reliable.
However, realising this potential will require thoughtful planning and coordinated action. Technology choices, cost efficiency, and sustainability measures must all be carefully balanced. Just as importantly, policy frameworks should encourage investment in waste-to-energy infrastructure while ensuring it complements recycling efforts and other renewable energy initiatives.
The vision is clear. By treating waste as a resource, we can close the loop between consumption and energy generation. What was once a byproduct of modern life could become a cornerstone of energy resilience, helping to cut emissions and keep our cities running smoothly.
With the right mix of innovation, regulation, and community participation, the UAE’s waste could one day power not just homes, but a cleaner and more stable energy future.
To explore the full findings, read the study “Carbon Reduction and Cost Analysis in Solar-Biomass Synergy for UAE’s 2030 Energy Transition” on ScienceDirect: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1755008425000134?via%3Dihub