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.