Waste-to-Energy Solutions: A Sustainability Perspective

Fundamentals of waste-to-energy technologies (anaerobic digestion, gasification, etc.).

Comparing environmental footprints of waste-to-energy solutions.

Policy and regulatory considerations for implementing waste-to-energy projects

This workshop is organised in collaboration with Build Neutral.

Contact: Shiva Zargar, Founder & Director of Science and LCA, Build Neutral Inc.

SOCIAL IMAGINARIES AS A MOTOR FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND THE TESTING OF THE SECONDARY EXTRACTION TO PRODUCE ENERGY

Among the various solutions, the possibility of extracting material from waste and mining waste to produce energy is also emerging. One example of this is the production of hydrogen from mining waste water. Although these experiments are still in their infancy from a technological point of view, from the perspective of social imagination, sustainable scenarios are already being designed that build their meaning on the interpretation of alternative extraction practises for energy production. However, these ideas have not yet been sufficiently explored in social research. This lab brings together scholars who wish to discuss the concept of secondary extraction in the context of analysing social imaginaries that contribute to the development of experiments and knowledge production on forms of extractivism from waste to energy both in the field of research and entrepreneurship and in everyday life in different social contexts. Reflections may include theoretical contributions, case studies, historical analyses, ethnographic research and interdisciplinary considerations.

Francesco Barbalace, Coordinator of Research on the Social Imaginary

INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH INTO FUTURE POSSIBILITIES OF SECONDARY EXTRACTION IN RELATION TO ENERGY RECOVERY FROM WASTE MATERIALS AND THE INTEGRATION OF ENERGY WASTE INTO THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

FThis laboratory focuses on interdisciplinary research into how waste materials and end-of-life technologies can contribute to being considered as new energy sources for the energy needs of today’s societies. This lab aims to understand the social and infrastructural ways in which household and industrial waste and obsolete energy infrastructures are incorporated into secondary extraction logics and practises and then reused to create new sources of energy and materials, both large and small scale. Those interested in participating in this lab will be able to develop an understanding of what alternative knowledge and practises can be mobilised to enable secondary extraction processes and make them accessible to local communities. This workshop invites scientists, entrepreneurs, local communities and the general public to reflect on (but not limited to):

• How local communities can be empowered to contribute to the formulation of secondary energy production concepts as prosumers through the reuse of waste (e.g. domestic bioenergy plants)?

• How can policies and interventions facilitate secondary recovery practises for small-scale domestic energy production?

• What happens to existing energy infrastructure and technology components when they are decommissioned (e.g. obsolete batteries or solar panels, decommissioned coal-fired power plants) and how their materials can be recovered or reused to support further energy cycles?

• How different secondary extraction considerations can contribute to the development of new energy production and consumption practises

• What knowledge about secondary production emerges when users take control of energy production and rematerialise decommissioned technologies?

• What alternative forms of knowledge – traditional, experimental or indigenous – can be activated to develop new approaches to secondary extraction?

• How different secondary recovery considerations can help develop new energy production and consumption practises?

• What knowledge about secondary extraction emerges when users take control of energy production and rematerialise decommissioned technologies?

Serena Saligari, Coordinator for Anthrolopology Research