Eesti Energia Opens Iru Waste-to-Energy Plant
Eesti Energia today opens the waste-to-energy power unit at the Iru plant, ending an era where waste ends up as landfill on a large scale: The plant is expected tro reduce heating prices in Tallinn and Maardu.
With the unit fully operational, over half of the Estonian household waste will be recovered to produce electricity and heat. Preparations for the Iru project began in 2006, construction in 2010 and the project was completed in 2013.
Eesti Energia last year said the power unit could knock as much as 30 percent off heat bills in Tallinn and Maardu. The plant's output does not affect the open market electricity prices.
The 105 million-euro project sends majority of its heat to Tallinn's downtown and to the Lasnamäe and Mustamäe districts.
The waste-to-energy unit is only the second of its kind in the Baltics.