Abstract
The volume of municipal solid waste produced in many cities in low to middle income countries exceeds the capacity of handling facilities causing environmental and health risks. This study provides the most comprehensive analysis to date of municipal solid waste to energy options for Abuja, Nigeria. We use most recently available data on waste generation from Abuja municipal
authorities, integrated with secondary data from the literature. This is combined with standard relationships between waste composition and energy production to compare the potential for thermochemical conversion and anaerobic digestion to meet the energy requirement of Abuja. In addition, we use assumptions about digestate production and nitrogen release to estimate the potential production of organic fertilizer from digestate. The organic fraction of municipal solid
waste from Abuja (7.1×107(±4×106) kg y-1) has potential to produce 3.6×106(±2×105) m3 y1 biogas. This could provide 7.8×103 (±4×102) MWh y-1 electricity, equivalent to 8% of annual electricity requirement in Abuja, 4.0×107(±2×106) MJ y-1 heat, and 5.3×105(±3×104) kg y-1digestate use as bio-fertilizer from organic fraction only. Potential power generation by thermochemical conversion for combined heat and electricity is much greater, 7.73×104(±4×103) MWh y-1, equivalent to 83% of power requirement in Abuja, but does not produce bio-fertilizer. Using the organic fraction for anaerobic digestion and the remaining waste for thermochemical conversion provides combined heat and energy that is 91.5% of Abuja power requirements, while also producing digestate. Barriers to implementation include informal waste recyclers with poor collection and handling procedures, absence of public education, weak environmental policies and lack of funding. There is a need for periodic review of policies and waste legislation to create a circular economy in Abuja.
authorities, integrated with secondary data from the literature. This is combined with standard relationships between waste composition and energy production to compare the potential for thermochemical conversion and anaerobic digestion to meet the energy requirement of Abuja. In addition, we use assumptions about digestate production and nitrogen release to estimate the potential production of organic fertilizer from digestate. The organic fraction of municipal solid
waste from Abuja (7.1×107(±4×106) kg y-1) has potential to produce 3.6×106(±2×105) m3 y1 biogas. This could provide 7.8×103 (±4×102) MWh y-1 electricity, equivalent to 8% of annual electricity requirement in Abuja, 4.0×107(±2×106) MJ y-1 heat, and 5.3×105(±3×104) kg y-1digestate use as bio-fertilizer from organic fraction only. Potential power generation by thermochemical conversion for combined heat and electricity is much greater, 7.73×104(±4×103) MWh y-1, equivalent to 83% of power requirement in Abuja, but does not produce bio-fertilizer. Using the organic fraction for anaerobic digestion and the remaining waste for thermochemical conversion provides combined heat and energy that is 91.5% of Abuja power requirements, while also producing digestate. Barriers to implementation include informal waste recyclers with poor collection and handling procedures, absence of public education, weak environmental policies and lack of funding. There is a need for periodic review of policies and waste legislation to create a circular economy in Abuja.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 1173474 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Frontiers in Sustainability |
| Volume | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 30 May 2023 |
Bibliographical note
FundingThe research was funded by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Nigeria as oversea PHD fully funded program with award number (PTDF/ED/OSS/PHD/EMD/1656/19), and by the ADVENT project funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NE/M019691/1) and ADVANCES project funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NE/M019691/1), EPSRC funded by UKERC-4 and AH is funded by UK Research and Innovation Energy Programme grant number EP/S029575/1.
Acknowledgement
Sincere appreciation to PTDF Nigeria for granting the research award and to the management of Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Nigeria, for its support in providing data on Abuja municipal solid waste and for granting us access to the major disposal site. The UK Natural Environment Research Council (UKERC) and UK Research and Innovation Energy Programme are also much appreciated for funding support
Keywords
- Organic fraction of municipal solid waste
- anaerobic digestion
- greenhouse gas emissions
- combined heat and power
- municipal solid waste management
- low-income countries
Access to Document
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