'Garbage Was a Filial Son' 14.3 Billion Won Sales Revenue... Effect of Planting 452,333 Pine Trees

Record High Steam Sales Revenue Last Year

Companies Also Benefit from Energy Cost Reduction

Ulsan City earned a whopping 14.3 billion KRW last year by burning 'waste' at a single incineration plant.

The project of recycling waste heat steam generated during the incineration of municipal waste at Seongam Incineration Plant and supplying it to companies has proven to be quite profitable.

On the 26th, Ulsan City announced that it supplied 406,407 tons of steam to three companies?Hyosung Chemical Co., Ltd., Bucker Chemical Korea Co., Ltd., and Hanju Co., Ltd.?last year, generating sales revenue of 14.3 billion KRW. This amount is 2.5 billion KRW higher than in 2022 and marks the highest income since steam supply began in 2008.

Ulsan Seongam Incineration Plant can process 650 tons of municipal waste per day, producing 52 tons per hour of medium-pressure steam (16Kg/㎠×203℃) and 34 tons per hour of high-pressure steam (47Kg/㎠×400℃). To recycle the waste heat steam that was previously discarded, Ulsan City signed a 'Steam Supply and Usage Agreement' with Hyosung Chemical Co., Ltd. in June 2008 and began supplying steam.

Subsequently, in June 2019, Bucker Chemical Korea Co., Ltd., and in July 2022, Hanju Co., Ltd. were newly discovered consumers, and through facility improvements and operational method enhancements, steam supply was expanded.

As a result, Ulsan City's steam supply project started with 36,000 tons in 2008 and sold 406,407 tons last year, with sales revenue increasing significantly from 1 billion KRW to a record high of 14.3 billion KRW. Additionally, 1,143 MWh of electricity was generated from the turbine generator within the incineration plant, saving 186 million KRW in electricity costs.

Companies also saved 6.1 billion KRW in fuel costs required for steam production, enhancing product competitiveness and contributing to cost reduction. The project achieved a reduction of 64,619 tons of CO2 greenhouse gases, equivalent to planting 452,333 pine trees.

An official from Ulsan City stated, “Through the reuse of discarded energy, we are not only generating revenue but also contributing to energy savings for companies and greenhouse gas reduction, thereby revitalizing the local economy,” adding, “This is a good example of win-win cooperation between the administration and businesses.”

Ulsan City Hall.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.