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Estimation of Methane Production and Electrical Energy Generation from Municipal Solid Waste Disposal Sites in Pakistan

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  • Ihsanullah Sohoo

    (Institute of Environmental Technology and Energy Economics, Hamburg University of Technology, Blohmstr. 15, 21073 Hamburg, Germany
    Department of Energy and Environment Engineering, Dawood University of Engineering and Technology, New M.A Jinnah Road, Karachi 74800, Pakistan)

  • Marco Ritzkowski

    (Institute of Environmental Technology and Energy Economics, Hamburg University of Technology, Blohmstr. 15, 21073 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Zubair Ahmed Sohu

    (Oil and Gas Development Company Limited, OGDCL House, Plot No. 3, Jinnah Avenue, F 6/1 Blue Area, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan)

  • Senem Önen Cinar

    (Institute of Environmental Technology and Energy Economics, Hamburg University of Technology, Blohmstr. 15, 21073 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Zhi Kai Chong

    (Institute of Environmental Technology and Energy Economics, Hamburg University of Technology, Blohmstr. 15, 21073 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Kerstin Kuchta

    (Institute of Environmental Technology and Energy Economics, Hamburg University of Technology, Blohmstr. 15, 21073 Hamburg, Germany)

Abstract

This work aimed to estimate the annual methane production from the municipal solid waste disposal sites in Pakistan. In this study, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) default methodology was used to estimate theoretical methane formation potential of the waste disposal sites in major cities of Pakistan. The estimates of this study are based on the last population census conducted in the year 2017 and latest available data regarding the waste generation and management practices in the cities considered in the study. Results showed that 31.18 million tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) is generated annually. The top 10 major populated cities in Pakistan (with 20% share in country’s population) contributing 31% share in the total quantity of MSW generated in overall country. On average 50–60% of the MSW generated is collected and openly dumped at the designated waste disposal sites. After analyzing the data, we estimate that annually 12.8 MtCO 2 -eq of methane is emitted from the waste disposal sites in major cities considered in this study. The methane produced from the waste disposal sites can be sustainably utilized as a source of energy through transforming MSW disposal sites (open dumps) to sanitary landfills with methane capturing and utilization facilities. In the present scenario of waste management and methane formation potential, sanitary landfills would generate 62.35 MWh of electric power if 25% of the methane was recovered and utilized in power generation.

Suggested Citation

  • Ihsanullah Sohoo & Marco Ritzkowski & Zubair Ahmed Sohu & Senem Önen Cinar & Zhi Kai Chong & Kerstin Kuchta, 2021. "Estimation of Methane Production and Electrical Energy Generation from Municipal Solid Waste Disposal Sites in Pakistan," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-17, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:9:p:2444-:d:543104
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mubashir Qasim & Koji Kotani, 2014. "An empirical analysis of energy shortage in Pakistan," Asia-Pacific Development Journal, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), vol. 21(1), pages 137-166, June.
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    3. Sohoo, Ihsanullah & Ritzkowski, Marco & Heerenklage, Jörn & Kuchta, Kerstin, 2021. "Biochemical methane potential assessment of municipal solid waste generated in Asian cities: A case study of Karachi, Pakistan," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    4. Ogunjuyigbe, A.S.O. & Ayodele, T.R. & Alao, M.A., 2017. "Electricity generation from municipal solid waste in some selected cities of Nigeria: An assessment of feasibility, potential and technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 149-162.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ihsanullah Sohoo & Marco Ritzkowski & Muhammad Sultan & Muhammad Farooq & Kerstin Kuchta, 2022. "Conceptualization of Bioreactor Landfill Approach for Sustainable Waste Management in Karachi, Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-22, March.
    2. Asif Iqbal & Yasar Abdullah & Abdul Sattar Nizami & Imran Ali Sultan & Faiza Sharif, 2022. "Assessment of Solid Waste Management System in Pakistan and Sustainable Model from Environmental and Economic Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-23, October.
    3. Tavseef Mairaj Shah & Anzar Hussain Khan & Cherisa Nicholls & Ihsanullah Sohoo & Ralf Otterpohl, 2023. "Using Landfill Sites and Marginal Lands for Socio-Economically Sustainable Biomass Production through Cultivation of Non-Food Energy Crops: An Analysis Focused on South Asia and Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-21, March.
    4. Ihsanullah Sohoo & Marco Ritzkowski & Jinyang Guo & Kiran Sohoo & Kerstin Kuchta, 2022. "Municipal Solid Waste Management through Sustainable Landfilling: In View of the Situation in Karachi, Pakistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-25, January.

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