In June 2017, Albania inaugurated its first waste-to-energy plant in Elbasan, which will almost completely eliminate the community’s landfill problem. PENETRON ADMIX was used to treat concrete used for the plant’s below-ground structures.
Located on the Shkumbin River in central Albania, Elbasan is one of the country’s largest cities (population 128,000) and also one of its most polluted. The city’s new waste-to-energy plant uses trash as a fuel for generating power, just as other power plants use coal, oil, or natural gas. The burning trash heats water into steam, which drives a turbine to create electricity. Generally, this process can reduce landfill volumes by up to 90% and will extend the lifespan of Elbasan's landfill to more than 80 years.
The €26 million ($27.9 million) energy plant will generate 2.85 MW of electricity per hour by incinerating trash; the leftover fly ash and granulate, incidentally, can be used in the production of concrete and asphalt.
“Our admixture provides the new structures at Elbasan permanent protection against concrete deterioration caused by chemical attack, freeze-thaw cycles and corrosion,” adds Theodor Mentzikofakis, General Director of PENETRON Hellas.
The project managers specified PENETRON ADMIX for about 2,000 m3 (2,600 cubic yards) of concrete used for all the new below-ground structures at the Elbasan plant, some extending down to a depth of 8 m (26 feet). Over 1,000 m (3,300 feet) of PENEBAR SW-45 waterstops permanently sealed the construction joints, and topical materials (PENECRETE MORTAR and PENETRON) were applied to eliminate any cracks that developed after curing to waterproof all the basement structures.
“The Elbasan plant is yet another successful large project in Albania that shows the clear advantages of our integral crystalline products,” concludes Theodor Mentzikofakis. “Both the customer and our team are happy with the results!”
A first for Albania: Elbasan’s new waste-to-energy plant uses trash as a fuel for generating power. PENETRON ADMIX ensures the durability of the facility’s below-ground concrete structures.
Less landfill, more durable: Burning trash to create electricity at Elbasan helps reduce landfill waste by up to 90%. PENETRON crystalline technology extends the life of the concrete by decades.
