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Techno-economic analysis and environmental impact assessment of energy recovery from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in Brazil

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  • Leme, Marcio Montagnana Vicente
  • Rocha, Mateus Henrique
  • Lora, Electo Eduardo Silva
  • Venturini, Osvaldo José
  • Lopes, Bruno Marciano
  • Ferreira, Cláudio Homero

Abstract

Due to the lack of appropriate policies in the last decades, 60% of Brazilian cities still dump their waste in non-regulated landfills (the remaining ones dump their trash in regulated landfills), which represent a serious environmental and social problem. The key objective of this study is to compare, from a techno-economic and environmental point of view, different alternatives to the energy recovery from the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generated in Brazilian cities. The environmental analysis was carried out using current data collected in Betim, a 450,000 inhabitants city that currently produces 200 tonnes of MSW/day. Four scenarios were designed, whose environmental behaviour were studied applying the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, in accordance with the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards. The results show the landfill systems as the worst waste management option and that a significant environmental savings is achieved when a wasted energy recovery is done. The best option, which presented the best performance based on considered indicators, is the direct combustion of waste as fuel for electricity generation. The study also includes a techno-economical evaluation of the options, using a developed computer simulation tool. The economic indicators of an MSW energy recovery project were calculated. The selected methodology allows to calculate the energy content of the MSW and the CH4 generated by the landfill, the costs and incomes associated with the energy recovery, the sales of electricity and carbon credits from the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The studies were based on urban centres of 100,000, 500,000 and 1,000,000 inhabitants, using the MSW characteristics of the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte. Two alternatives to recovering waste energy were analyzed: a landfill that used landfill biogas to generate electricity through generator modules and a Waste-to-Energy (WtE) facility also with electricity generation. The results show that power generation projects using landfill biogas in Brazil strongly depend on the existence of a market for emissions reduction credits. The WtE plant projects, due to its high installation, Operation and Maintenance (O&M) costs, are highly dependent on MSW treatment fees. And they still rely on an increase of three times the city taxes to become attractive.

Suggested Citation

  • Leme, Marcio Montagnana Vicente & Rocha, Mateus Henrique & Lora, Electo Eduardo Silva & Venturini, Osvaldo José & Lopes, Bruno Marciano & Ferreira, Cláudio Homero, 2014. "Techno-economic analysis and environmental impact assessment of energy recovery from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in Brazil," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 8-20.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:87:y:2014:i:c:p:8-20
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2014.03.003
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    6. Zainorfarah Zainuddin & Mohammad Iranmanesh & Ming‐Lang Tseng & Behzad Foroughi & Tengku Adeline Adura Tengku Hamzah, 2021. "Clean development mechanism implementation: External and organizational factors drives expected business benefits," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(8), pages 3444-3453, December.
    7. Ruoso, Ana Cristina & Dalla Nora, Macklini & Siluk, Julio Cezar Mairesse & Ribeiro, José Luis Duarte, 2022. "The impact of landfill operation factors on improving biogas generation in Brazil," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    8. Huang, T.Y. & Chiueh, P.T. & Lo, S.L., 2017. "Life-cycle environmental and cost impacts of reusing fly ash," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 255-260.
    9. Margallo, M. & Dominguez-Ramos, A. & Aldaco, R. & Bala, A. & Fullana, P. & Irabien, A., 2014. "Environmental sustainability assessment in the process industry: A case study of waste-to-energy plants in Spain," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 144-155.
    10. Angelika Sita Ouedraogo & Robert Scott Frazier & Ajay Kumar, 2021. "Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Gasification and Landfilling for Disposal of Municipal Solid Wastes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-15, October.
    11. Rodrigues, Livia Fernanda & Santos, Ivan Felipe Silva dos & Santos, Thereza Isabelle Silva dos & Barros, Regina Mambeli & Tiago Filho, Geraldo Lúcio, 2022. "Energy and economic evaluation of MSW incineration and gasification in Brazil," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 933-944.
    12. Santiago Alzate & Bonie Restrepo-Cuestas & Álvaro Jaramillo-Duque, 2019. "Municipal Solid Waste as a Source of Electric Power Generation in Colombia: A Techno-Economic Evaluation under Different Scenarios," Resources, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-16, March.
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