Prime mover selection for waste-to-energy-based CHP in a micro-grid: A case of a typical healthcare facility in South Africa

Installation of a biogas-fired combined heat and power plant in an energy-intensive facility such as a hospital as an energy efficiency measure is expected to bring about a reduction in incurred cost of energy, national grid demand pressure, and greenhouse gas emissions. However, the performance of a combined heat and power plant depends on the type of prime mover used. Since combined heat and power equipment is an energy generation device, it should be analysed in the realm of sustainability where sustainable criteria (such as technical, economic, environmental and social) have to be considered simultaneously. This paper presents a multi-criteria approach based on Best-Worst-Entropy-TOPSIS methods for optimal selection of prime mover for the combined heat and power plant in a typical hospital in South Africa. Four prime movers such as Internal Combustion Engine, Gas Turbine, Micro-Turbine, Fuel Cells were considered. The final results indicated that Gas Turbine (GT) is the best prime mover while Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) is the least.