Energy-from-Waste Facility

Covanta Delaware Valley, L.P.
Chester, Pennsylvania

The Delaware Valley Resource Recovery facility, operating as Covanta Delaware Valley, L.P., is located in Chester, Pennsylvania. It joined Covanta’s portfolio of environmentally sound Energy-from-Waste facilities in 2005. The plant processes up to 3,348 tons of municipal and commercial solid waste each day.

The facility, acquired from Westinghouse Energy Resource Systems, opened in 1992. At maximum output, the plant generates approximately 80 megawatts of electricity, 90 percent of which is sold to the local utility. The plant not only meets the municipal solid waste disposal and energy production needs of Delaware County, but also provides capacity for up to 500,000 tons of additional waste each year from surrounding counties.

Advanced control systems constantly monitor combustion performance, energy output and emissions at the Delaware Valley facility. The six-combustor plant provides an effective and environmentally safe solution to the county's solid waste disposal needs as well as those of communities and industries throughout the Delaware Valley region.

Technical Data

Facility Address: 

10 Highland Avenue
Chester, PA 19013
(610) 497-8100

Primary Service Area:

Chester, Pennsylvania region

Waste Supply: 

Participating municipalities and private haulers deliver up to 1.15 million tons per year.

Energy Market:

Electricity generation for plant use and export to Atlantic City Electric Company

Capacity:

3,348 tons per day

Number of Process Lines: 

Six @ 558 tons per day

Type of Stoker Grate: 

O'Connor Rotary Combustor

Steam Conditions at Boiler Outlet:

140,000 lbs/hr @ 690 pounds per square inch absolute (psia)/8000°F

Turbine-Generators: 

90-megawatt condensing unit

Air Quality Control:

6 dry scrubbers followed by 6 fabric filter (baghouse) systems

Stack Height: 

245 feet

Tipping Floor Capacity: 

10,000 tons

Secondary Materials Recovery:

Recovery of ferrous (steel) and non-ferrous (aluminum) metals