Waste-to-Energy Generation: Complex Efficiency Analysis of Modern Technologies

Abstract

Recycling of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is a significant challenge all over the world. Waste-to-Energy generation solves the problem of MSW recycling and produces power for urban territories. In this study, the researchers implemented complex economic and ecological efficiency analyses of modern Waste-to-Energy technologies. The fundamental challenge of modern Waste-to-Energy generations is finding the balance between economics, ecology, and productivity. Thus, to assess the effectiveness of various thermal technologies, statistics from enterprises were used. The Balanced Scorecard (BSC) method was implemented to calculate an integral effectiveness of a particular Waste-to-Energy technological approach. Environmental and economic analysess of thermal MSW disposal technologies was carried out by selecting the data from at least 146 functioning plants in Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Thailand. The research results confirm that gasification technology was the most promising and the most environmentally and cost effective. Incineration Moving Grate technology was the least effective and attractive Waste-to-Energy technology according to the results of the environmental and economic efficiency assessments. The research results can be used for urban planning in waste recycling projects and the new energy national and municipal agenda. The research results can also be useful for municipal strategic energy and sustainable plans and programs.