ENERGY RECOVERY POTENTIAL AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE IN GOMBE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study intends to estimate the potential amount of electrical energy that could be recovered from the solid waste disposed of at the only government operated dumpsite in the city of Gombe, Nigeria. The greenhouse gas emission into the atmosphere from the process is estimated. The American Standard of Testing and Measurements method was used to characterise the waste, a mathematical model based on the wastes composition was then used to determine its caloric value – 2,577.81kJ/kg. Result of the characterisation study which showed that the waste contains about 65% inorganic materials and the calorific value estimated informed the choice of incineration as the most suitable waste to energy technology. When the potential amount of energy that could be recovered was estimated, it was found that for the 10-year period that the landfill has been in existence, on a daily basis an average of 232,160kwh/day could be generated, this is capable of powering 42% of the houses in the city. It was also found that by using the electricity recovered from the waste, there is a potential to reduce emission of greenhouse gases from the use grid electricity by up to 49,742.19tCO2e in a year. The study therefore recommended that results of the study can be used as a guide for the city’s authorities and other stakeholders for the initiation of a waste to energy project.

Keywords

• Calorific value
• Greenhouse Gases
• Mathematical model
• Municipal Solid Waste
• Solid Waste Management
• Waste to Energy

References

1. Dr Abubakar Maiwada Centre for Energy studies, Bayero University Kano. [e-mail]
2. Dr Wadinda Mamza Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maiduguri. [e-mail]