Waste-to-Energy Generation: Complex World Project Analysis

Abstract

Sustainable development and the circular economy mandate efficacious management of waste. The annually increasing volumes of municipal solid waste pose a formidable global challenge. Waste-to-energy conversion, utilizing thermochemical or biochemical technologies, presents a viable solution for mitigating waste disposal concerns. This study conducts a thorough analysis of extant projects to evaluate the economic viability and environmental benefits across various technologies. Employing a self-compiled, unique database, our examination spans enterprises operational from 1980 to 2022, including 37 of the most representative facilities across Europe, North America, and East and Southeast Asia. Economic efficiency is gauged through the levelized cost of electricity generated by these installations, while environmental impacts are assessed based on the statistics on prevented greenhouse gas emissions. The methodology encompasses correlation and techno–economic analyses and expert evaluation. Contrary to conventional wisdom, our findings challenge the ubiquity of scale effects among technologies and the presumed decline in electricity generation costs with newer technologies. However, they corroborate the enhanced environmental benefits of recent technological advancements. The insights derived from this research are poised to inform strategic municipal solid waste management planning in Russia and beyond, offering a foundation for the design of new facilities. The scientific novelty of this work lies in its holistic approach to analyzing the ecological and economic efficiencies of all extant technologies.