Waste-to-energy processes as a municipality-level waste management strategy

ǂa ǂcase study of Kočevje, Slovenia

Vladimir Prebilič (Author), Matic Može (Author), Iztok Golobič (Author)

Abstract

The escalating challenge of waste management demands innovative strategies to mitigate environmental impacts and harness valuable resources. This study investigates waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies for municipal waste management in Kočevje, Slovenia. An analysis of available waste streams reveals substantial energy potential from mixed municipal waste, biodegradable waste, and livestock manure. Various WtE technologies, including incineration, pyrolysis, gasification, and anaerobic digestion, are compared. The results show that processing mixed municipal waste using thermochemical processes could annually yield up to 0.98 GWh of electricity, and, separately, 3.22 GWh of useable waste heat for district heating or industrial applications. Furthermore, by treating 90% of the biodegradable waste, up to 1.31 GWh of electricity and 1.76 GWh of usable waste heat could be generated annually from biodegradable municipal waste and livestock manure using anaerobic digestion and biogas combustion in a combined heat and power facility. Gasification coupled with a gas-turbine-based combined heat and power cycle is suggested as optimal. Integration of WtE technologies could yield 2.29 GWh of electricity and 3.55 GWh of useable waste heat annually, representing an annual exergy yield of 2.98 GWh. Within the Kočevje municipality, this amount of energy could cover 23.6% of the annual household electricity needs and cover the annual space and water heating requirements of 10.0% of households with district heating. Additionally, CO2-eq. emissions could be reduced by up to 20%, while further offsetting emissions associated with electricity and district heat generation by 1907 tons annually. These findings highlight the potential of WtE technologies to enhance municipal self-sustainability and reduce landfill waste.

Keywords

pretvorba odpadkov v energijo;bioplin;sežig;piroliza;uplinjanje;mešani komunalni odpadki;upravljanje z odpadki;energijske pretvorbe;uporaba odpadkov;eksergija;parna turbina;plinska turbina;motorji z notranjim zgorevanjem;waste-to-energy;biogas;incineration;pyrolysis;gasification;municipal solid waste;waste management;energy conversion;waste utilization;exergy;steam turbine;gas turbine;ICE;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2024
Typology:	1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:	UL FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
UDC:	621.431
COBISS:	195736067
ISSN:	2227-9717
Views:	16
Downloads:	1
Average score:	0 (0 votes)
Metadata:

Other data

Secondary language:	Slovenian
Secondary keywords:	pretvorba odpadkov v energijo;bioplin;sežig;piroliza;uplinjanje;mešani komunalni odpadki;upravljanje z odpadki;energijske pretvorbe;uporaba odpadkov;eksergija;parna turbina;plinska turbina;motorji z notranjim zgorevanjem;
Type (COBISS):	Article
Pages:	str. 1-27
Volume:	ǂVol. ǂ12
Issue:	ǂiss. ǂ5, [article no.] 1010
Chronology:	May 2024
DOI:	10.3390/pr12051010
ID:	23694780