Development of data-intensive techno-economic models for the assessment of a biomass, waste heat, and MSW integrated waste-to-electricity facility

This study develops a framework for an assessment of the integrated processing of various types of waste in a single waste-to-energy (W2E) facility. The FUNdamental ENgineering PrinciplEs-based model for Estimation of Cost of Energy from Biomass and Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) (FUNNEL-Cost-Bio-waste) was developed and used to assess the conversion of MSW, agricultural residue, forest residue, and waste heat to electricity via gasification. A geographic information systems (GIS)-based model was developed to estimate the availability of wastes at collection points and the transportation distances to the facility. A case study for Alberta (Canada) was conducted to assess the techno-economic feasibility of a 199 MW gasification-based facility. Depending on whether one or two waste heat sources are used for drying MSW, internal rates of return and the costs of generating electricity were estimated to be 11.18 % and 8.09 % and US $21.90/MWh and US $33.23/MWh, respectively. This information can be used for investment decision-making.