Prediction of methane emissions and electrical energy generation potential from MSW landfill in Khulna city of Bangladesh: A model-based approach

Abstract

Abstract Landfills and open dumps are associated with significant environmental problems, especially in developing countries. The decomposition of organic wastes generates methane (CH4) which is responsible for a significant increase in global warming potential (GWP). This study presents the methane emission from the Rajbandh landfill of Khulna city calculated by different prediction models (ZODM, FODM, MTM, LandGEM-V-3.03). The predicted average emissions from 2000 to 2036, as calculated by FODM, MTM, SP, CAAA, and IC simulations, demonstrate remarkably comparable emission estimates, with values around 2.14 to 2.97 Gg/year. This study compares the output and underlying assumptions of each model while attempting to identify an appropriate approach for estimating methane emissions under the specific conditions of Khulna. In addition, the seasonal variation of methane emission estimation according to SP reveals that the highest rate of methane generation occurs during the monsoon season, while the lowest rate is observed during winter. Moreover, the assessment of the economic feasibility of establishing an electricity generation facility using methane produced from landfilled MSW implies that the Rajbandh landfill site holds the economically viable potential to establish a 1 MW powerplant without subsidy. The total environmental lifetime benefits from this electricity generation project were found 0.563 MMTCO2-eq emissions will be reduced. The outcome of this study may apply to other landfills in Bangladesh and can contribute significantly to waste management planning and energy security.