Energy-from-Waste Facility

Covanta Hennepin Energy Resource Co., L.P.
Hennepin Energy Resource Center (HERC)
Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Hennepin Energy Resource Center (HERC), located just north of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, began commercial operation in October 1989. Operating as Covanta Hennepin Energy Resource Co., L.P., it serves Hennepin County, Minnesota's largest county, with a population of over one million people—25 percent of the state's entire population. The facility is designed to process 1,212 tons-per-day of mixed municipal solid waste, which generates up to 39.6 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy. Approximately 33.7 MW are sold to Xcel Energy Co., with the rest of the electricity recycled and reused by the facility throughout the energy-from-waste (EfW) process.

Technical Data

Facility Address:

505 6th Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55405
(612) 333-7303

Site:

15 acres in downtown Minneapolis

Commercial Operation:

October 1989

Energy-from-Waste System:

Two 606-ton-per-day mass burn units with waterwall furnaces and W + E Umwelttechnik A.G. stokers and ash handling systems.

Boiler Design:

630 psig/752°F superheater outlet conditions

Air Pollution Control Equipment:

Semi-dry flue gas scrubbers injecting lime, fabric filter baghouses, nitrogen oxide control system, mercury control system, and continuous emissions monitoring (CEM) system

Rated Refuse Capacity:

1,212 tons per day

Energy Generation @ Rated Capacity:

Up to 39.6 MW from one condensing steam turbine generator