Economic and Environmental Evaluation of Waste to Energy through Gasification; Case study: Tehran

Abstract

In spite of the past few decades, gasification of waste is being used in the developed countries. Reducing the space for landfill sites, producing fuel from waste, as well as avoiding negative impacts of landfilling, are of advantages of gasification. The research was aimed at feasibility study of application of Tehran municipal solid waste (MSW) gasification in addition to understanding the waste gasification as a stable and economic substitute for generating clean energy. On this basis, the researcher analyzed the required information through library research and by examining different types of available gasifiers in the developed countries. Firstly, the profitability of the project was assessed by using the net present value method and then, the cost-benefit analysis of the project was performed. In this study, three scenarios of the MSW landfilling and two gasification scenarios were analyzed. The research findings indicate that the gasification scenario is more economical than the landfill. Finally, the environmental analysis of all of the three scenarios was reviewed and considering the fact that the gasification scenarios are in line with the Fifth Economic Plan of the Islamic Republic of Iran, they can be proposed as the best scenarios. As to comparison of the two gasification scenarios, it was found out that considering the capacity of the waste produced in Tehran and the volume of the input waste of the two gasifiers and reduction of the operational costs of Termiska TPS Gasifier, the model of Termiska TPS Gasifier is a more suitable option for Tehran.