Financing Alternatives for Small-Scale Solid Waste-to-Energy Projects

1986 ◽  
pp. 137-170
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Solid Waste ◽  
Waste To Energy ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Energy Projects

Comparison of Environmental Performance Expectations: Gasification Versus Mass-Burn WTE Facilities Currently Under Construction in North America

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Rice
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Solid Waste ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Waste To Energy ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Emissions Modeling ◽  
Technology Applications ◽  
Under Construction

In recent years, factors including limited landfill capacity, increasing costs of fossil fuels, and increased pressure to actively recover value from waste in the form of materials and energy have encouraged municipalities throughout North America to advance waste management strategies that utilize waste-to-energy (WTE) technologies as an alternative to landfilling. Currently, utilization of alternative conversion technologies, including gasification, is limited to small-scale or pilot municipal solid waste (MSW) to energy facilities in North America. Though limited history of environmental performance when using MSW as a primary feedstock has delayed public acceptance of facility proposals, municipalities are now moving forward with alternative conversion technology applications. In Florida, two entities have received permits from the Department of Environmental Protection to proceed with construction of gasification facilities — Geoplasma, Inc. in St. Lucie County, and INEOS New Planet BioEnergy in Vero Beach. In Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Enerkem GreenField Alberta Biofuels has received a permit from Alberta Environment to begin construction of a gasification facility that will produce bioethanol from post-recycled MSW. Since 1996, no new greenfield MSW-processing mass burn facility has been constructed in the U.S., though facilities in Hillsborough County, FL; Lee County, FL; and Olmstead County, MN have undergone expansions, and in Honolulu, FL, a 900 TPD unit is currently under construction. In recent years, two municipalities have received permits to proceed with construction of mass burn WTE facilities and have made significant progress toward implementation: The municipalities of Durham and York, Ontario, Canada and The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County, Florida. This paper will provide a direct comparison of the expected environmental performance of the recently permitted gasification facilities to the expected environmental performance of the recently permitted mass burn WTE facilities, as established by permit applications and emissions modeling studies. Comparison of emissions of particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and hydrogen chloride will be performed on the basis of one ton of feedstock processed. Emission of these pollutants at the recently permitted facilities discussed above will be contrasted with emissions experienced at currently operating WTE facilities within North America.

scholarly journals Municipal Solid Waste as a valuable recycled asset for small-scale electricity production in rural communities

2019 ◽  
pp. 92-106
Author(s):  
Valter Silva ◽  
João Cardoso ◽  
Paulo Brito ◽  
Luís Tarelho ◽  
José Luz
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Municipal Solid Waste ◽  
Solid Waste ◽  
Economic Model ◽  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Waste To Energy ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Biomass Supply

Municipal solid waste provides an opportunity for electricity production. This strategy provides the rural communities a potential waste-to-energy opportunity to manage its costly residues problem, turning them into a valuable recycled asset. To address this issue, a techno-economic study of an integrated system comprising gasification of Acacia residues and Portuguese Municipal Solid Waste (PMSW) with an Internal Combustion Engine-Generator (ICEG) for electricity generation at small-scale (100 kW) was developed. Current studies only devote attention to biomass residues and do not explore MSW potential to eschew biomass supply shortage. Conventional systems are generally part of biomass supply chains, limiting flexibility and all year operation for their operators. Experimental data was gathered at a downdraft gasifier to provide a clear assessment of particle and tar concentration in the syngas and levers conditioning a satisfactory ICE operation. Once the potential of using Acacia residues and PMSW has been proven during gasification runs testing, and validation, a set of new conditions was also explored through a high-fidelity CFD model. We find that residues blends have the highest potential to generate high-quality syngas and smallest exposure to supply disruption. Despite both substrates showing potential at specific conditions, they also present individual drawbacks which will be best mitigated by executing a hybrid supply comprising the mix of substrates. An economic model coupling the financial indicators of net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR) and the payback period (PBP) considering a project lifetime of 25 years was developed. Cost factors include expenses with electricity generation, initial investment, amortizations and operation and maintenance (containing fuels costs). Revenues were estimated from electricity generated and sales to the national grid. A sensitivity analysis based on the Monte Carlo method was used to measure the economic model performance and to determine the risk in investing in such venture. The risk appraisal yielded favorable investment projections, with an NPV reaching positive values, an IRR superior to the discount rate and PBP lower than the project life span. This work allowed to confirm the positive effect of the generation of energy from downdraft gasification plants on a small-scale. Regardless of the project’s feasibility, the economic performance depended to a large extent on the electricity prices which present considerable variability and are subject to political decisions.

A multi-criteria assessment of alternative sustainable solid waste management of flexible packaging

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 201-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Somying Pongpimol ◽  
Yuosre F. Badir ◽  
Bohez L.J. Erik ◽  
Vatcharapol Sukhotu
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Solid Waste ◽  
Solid Waste Management ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Waste To Energy ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Packaging Waste ◽  
Flexible Packaging

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the issues affecting end of life (EOL) management of flexible packaging. It focuses on Sustainable Solid Waste Management by using multi-criteria decision making, analytic network process (ANP), and Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT). Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 33 expert stakeholders, though a series of interviews and questionnaires. The subject seven aspects were applied from integrated sustainable waste management with 19 sub-criteria identified. Criteria were prioritized by using ANP and SWOT to the internal and external environments of organizations directly responsible for waste management. Findings The five most important factors in the management of flexible packaging waste include: techniques for waste management, material and design, management support, legislation and rule, and environmental care and environmental health, respectively. Solutions addressing flexible packaging waste were identified, including reuse and recycle, waste to energy, biopolymers, new innovative materials and material recovery. Research limitations/implications Data were derived from the national authorities and large companies. The findings may not represent local authorities and small-scale manufacturers. Future research should be conducted, in order to investigate and focus around small manufacturing enterprises. Practical implications The findings provide a strategic framework for policy makers and industrial manufacturers. The benefits of this will enable them to address flexible packaging waste, by using qualitative and quantitative criteria. Originality/value This is the first paper developing a multi-criteria assessment model to specifically manage EOL flexible packaging, a possible pioneering piece of research in this field.

Waste-to-Energy Projects (Part II): Comparing Approaches

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 151-163
Author(s):  
Harsh Vardhan Bhati
Keyword(s):  
Solid Waste ◽  
Waste Incineration ◽  
Waste To Energy ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Energy Projects ◽  
Heavy Pollution ◽  
Developed Nations ◽  
Digestion Methods ◽  
By Products ◽  
India And China

Rapid urbanisation and industrialisation have led to a huge increase in the generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) across the globe. The world’s cities generate about 1.3 billion tons of solid waste per year and this is expected to increase to 2.2 billion tons by 2025. The most common method of waste management adopted by cities is to dispose of MSW in open dumps and oversaturated landfills. The improper management of MSW has become a threat to public and environmental health. However, this waste can also be perceived as an opportunity and a source of energy through Waste to Energy (WtE) technology. WtE technologies are used to produce various by-products like electricity, heat, biofuels and compost. In developed nations, it is primarily the non-organic elements of MSW that are used in WtE incineration. Developing nations are also investing heavily in WtE incineration, irrespective of the fact that their MSW consists primarily of biodegradables. The existing WtE incineration plants in India and China are not only causing heavy pollution but also posing a serious threat to the environment and human health. In this article, the author focuses on the current status and challenges of different WtE technologies used in Europe, US, China, Japan and India. Furthermore, the author recommends that waste incineration should not be treated as a source of renewable energy and suggests anaerobic digestion methods (biomethanation) as a solution for countries with more biodegradable waste.

A Review : Sustainability from Waste

2019 ◽  
pp. 134-155
Author(s):  
Kriti Jain ◽  
Chirag Shah
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Solid Waste ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Waste To Energy ◽  
Waste Generation ◽  
Material Resources ◽  
Waste Dumps ◽  
Waste Segregation ◽  
Treatment And Disposal ◽  
Engineered Landfill

The increasing volume and complexity of waste associated with the modern economy as due to the ranging population, is posing a serious risk to ecosystems and human health. Every year, an estimated 11.2 billion tonnes of solid waste is collected worldwide and decay of the organic proportion of solid waste is contributing about 5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions (UNEP). Poor waste management - ranging from non-existing collection systems to ineffective disposal causes air pollution, water and soil contamination. Open and unsanitary landfills contribute to contamination of drinking water and can cause infection and transmit diseases. The dispersal of debris pollutes ecosystems and dangerous substances from waste or garbage puts a strain on the health of urban dwellers and the environment. India, being second most populated country of the world that too with the lesser land area comparatively, faces major environmental challenges associated with waste generation and inadequate waste collection, transport, treatment and disposal. Population explosion, coupled with improved life style of people, results in increased generation of solid wastes in urban as well as rural areas of the country. The challenges and barriers are significant, but so are the opportunities. A priority is to move from reliance on waste dumps that offer no environmental protection, to waste management systems that retain useful resources within the economy [2]. Waste segregation at source and use of specialized waste processing facilities to separate recyclable materials has a key role. Disposal of residual waste after extraction of material resources needs engineered landfill sites and/or investment in waste-to-energy facilities. This study focusses on the minimization of the waste and gives the brief about the various initiations for proper waste management system. Hence moving towards the alternatives is the way to deal with these basic problems. This paper outlines various advances in the area of waste management. It focuses on current practices related to waste management initiatives taken by India. The purpose of this article put a light on various initiatives in the country and locates the scope for improvement in the management of waste which will also clean up the unemployment.

Renewable Energy on Tribal Lands: A Feasibility Study for a Biomass-to-Energy Plant on the Cocopah Reservation in Arizona

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Lauren K. D’Souza ◽  
William L. Ascher ◽  
Tanja Srebotnjak
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
The United States ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Policy Support ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Energy Plant ◽  
Energy Projects ◽  
Alternative Investment

Native American reservations are among the most economically disadvantaged regions in the United States; lacking access to economic and educational opportunities that are exacerbated by “energy insecurity” due to insufficient connectivity to the electric grid and power outages. Local renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and biomass offer energy alternatives but their implementation encounters barriers such as lack of financing, infrastructure, and expertise, as well as divergent attitudes among tribal leaders. Biomass, in particular, could be a source of stable base-load power that is abundant and scalable in many rural communities. This case study examines the feasibility of a biomass energy plant on the Cocopah reservation in southwestern Arizona. It considers feedstock availability, cost and energy content, technology options, nameplate capacity, discount and interest rates, construction, operation and maintenance (O&M) costs, and alternative investment options. This study finds that at current electricity prices and based on typical costs for fuel, O&M over 30 years, none of the tested scenarios is presently cost-effective on a net present value (NPV) basis when compared with an alternative investment yielding annual returns of 3% or higher. The technology most likely to be economically viable and suitable for remote, rural contexts—a combustion stoker—resulted in a levelized costs of energy (LCOE) ranging from US$0.056 to 0.147/kWh. The most favorable scenario is a combustion stoker with an estimated NPV of US$4,791,243. The NPV of the corresponding alternative investment is US$7,123,380. However, if the tribes were able to secure a zero-interest loan to finance the plant’s installation cost, the project would be on par with the alternative investment. Even if this were the case, the scenario still relies on some of the most optimistic assumptions for the biomass-to-power plant and excludes abatement costs for air emissions. The study thus concludes that at present small-scale, biomass-to-energy projects require a mix of favorable market and local conditions as well as appropriate policy support to make biomass energy projects a cost-competitive source of stable, alternative energy for remote rural tribal communities that can provide greater tribal sovereignty and economic opportunities.

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