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Scientific Article details

Title Waste-to-Energy Generation: Complex World Project Analysis
ID_Doc 10596
Authors Vukovic, N; Makogon, E
Title Waste-to-Energy Generation: Complex World Project Analysis
Year 2024
Published Sustainability, 16, 9
DOI 10.3390/su16093531
Abstract Sustainable development and the circular economy mandate efficacious management of waste. The annually increasing volumes of municipal solid waste pose a formidable global challenge. Waste-to-energy conversion, utilizing thermochemical or biochemical technologies, presents a viable solution for mitigating waste disposal concerns. This study conducts a thorough analysis of extant projects to evaluate the economic viability and environmental benefits across various technologies. Employing a self-compiled, unique database, our examination spans enterprises operational from 1980 to 2022, including 37 of the most representative facilities across Europe, North America, and East and Southeast Asia. Economic efficiency is gauged through the levelized cost of electricity generated by these installations, while environmental impacts are assessed based on the statistics on prevented greenhouse gas emissions. The methodology encompasses correlation and techno-economic analyses and expert evaluation. Contrary to conventional wisdom, our findings challenge the ubiquity of scale effects among technologies and the presumed decline in electricity generation costs with newer technologies. However, they corroborate the enhanced environmental benefits of recent technological advancements. The insights derived from this research are poised to inform strategic municipal solid waste management planning in Russia and beyond, offering a foundation for the design of new facilities. The scientific novelty of this work lies in its holistic approach to analyzing the ecological and economic efficiencies of all extant technologies.
Author Keywords sustainable development; waste management; waste to energy; green energy; sustainability; renewable energy sources; municipal solid waste
Index Keywords Index Keywords
Document Type Other
Open Access Open Access
Source Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED); Social Science Citation Index (SSCI)
EID WOS:001219949800001
WoS Category Green & Sustainable Science & Technology; Environmental Sciences; Environmental Studies
Research Area Science & Technology - Other Topics; Environmental Sciences & Ecology
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