Potential for Energy Recovery and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation from Municipal Solid Waste Using Waste To Energy Approach

Abstract

This research carried out to assess potential for energy recovery from the municipal solid waste of various municipalities of Nepal by implementing different waste to energy technologies like plasma arc gasification, conventional gasification, pyrolysis, incineration and anaerobic digestion plant and also the greenhouse gas mitigation achievable by the implementation of these technologies. It was found during the study that the total waste generated was 1435 tons per day with 0.3 kg per capita contribution. The major constituent of the waste was organic with 62 % of the total waste volume. On average, total moisture content in the waste was found to be 50%. The net energy available and, thus, lost after dumping of the solid waste was 71,895,000 MJ equivalent to 4262 MWh which can run a 52 MW plasma arc gasification power plant. The capacity of plasma arc gasification plant for Kathmandu Metropolitan city was found to be 19 MW. Cumulative reduction in GHG emission from all municipalities was found to be 80,555 tons of CO2 eq per year by the implementation of plasma arc technology. Levelized cost of energy for plasma arc, gasification, pyrolysis, incineration, and anaerobic digestion plant were calculated to be NRs 8.5, 10, 11, 10 and 11 per kWh respectively. Hence, the plasma arc gasification technology can be deemed as the most feasible waste to energy technology in terms of environmental and economic prospects.