Techno-Economic Evaluation of Waste To Energy (WtE) Plant

Human activities inevitably results in waste. Generated Municipal solid waste (MSW) simply collected and dumped which causes environmental problems and health hazards. Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) - A bio-fuel obtained from dry residue of waste. Conversion of MSW to RDF substitutes fossil fuels, reduces burden of land filling, reduction in emission, volume reduction of MSW, hygiene etc. Waste to Energy (WtE) plant evaluated by plant visit, data collection, sample collection and literature review. Detailed analysis has been carried out of MSW, RDF, Fly Ash, Bottom Ash and stack emission sample. MSW processed by mechanical processes as manual segregation, splitting, shredding, magnetic separation and air density separation to prepare RDF which shows upgradation in properties for utilization as fuel. 1 MT of MSW processed to yield RDF 0.6-0.65 MT. Characteristics of RDF shows calorific value-2684 kcal/kg, moisture content-26 % and ash content-24 %. WtE plant designed to process 400 TPD MSW to generate power at 9 MWH rating. The company has signed a power purchase agreement at INR 7.07/kw. Cost benefit analysis carried out considering capital investment, term loan, interest rate, manpower cost, raw material cost, fixed cost, processing cost etc. Comparison of strengths & opportunities with weakness & threats in (SWOT) analysis makes project interesting in waste management and energy sector. The economic evaluation shows Cost Benefit ratio (CBR)- 1.83, Internal Rate of Return (IRR)- 13.09 % and Net Present Value (NPV)- 9.41 crore which means project is viable and positive. Results from this study will support policy makers and local authorities to decide, design and develop approaches for resource and energy recovery from MSW.