Techno-Economic Assessment of Electricity Generation from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in Benin City

Abstract

Nigeria, with its large population, faces the twin challenge of proper

waste disposal and generation of adequate electrical power. One

commonly explored solution is the use of waste to energy facilities which

converts waste to electrical power, effectively killing two birds with one

stone. While this method of waste control is common in the western

world, it has hardly been employed in Nigeria and Benin metropolis has

no waste to energy facility. The aim of this work is to determine the

technical and economic implications of establishing and running a waste

to energy plant in Benin metropolis. To carry out a techno-economic

analysis, it was necessary to determine the size and technical properties

of the plant needed. The size of the facility was estimated based on the

amount of waste generated in the city. The technical properties of the

plant, like its method of operation and efficiency, were determined from

existing data. The amount of electricity which could be generated was

determined from the energy content of the waste. Samples of the main

constituents of MSW in Benin City were taken to the lab to determine

their calorific values and moisture contents using ASTM D5468-02 and

ASTM D3173 standards.