Evaluation of energy generation potential from municipal solid waste in the North-West province, South Africa

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management is rapidly becoming a severe environmental problem worldwide. Developing countries, especially African cities, are the most affected due to inadequate resources to cope with increasing magnitude and complexity of the waste generated as well as the scarcity of l...

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Main Author: Mapereka Francis Chagunda , Ruhiiga Tabukeli Musigi , Palamuleni Lobina Gertrude *
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: International Journal of Renewable Energy Development 2024
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Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12493/1940
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author Mapereka Francis Chagunda , Ruhiiga Tabukeli Musigi , Palamuleni Lobina Gertrude *
author_facet Mapereka Francis Chagunda , Ruhiiga Tabukeli Musigi , Palamuleni Lobina Gertrude *
author_sort Mapereka Francis Chagunda , Ruhiiga Tabukeli Musigi , Palamuleni Lobina Gertrude *
collection KAB-DR
description Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management is rapidly becoming a severe environmental problem worldwide. Developing countries, especially African cities, are the most affected due to inadequate resources to cope with increasing magnitude and complexity of the waste generated as well as the scarcity of land for disposal. As such, strategies which include waste- to-energy (WtE) generation to recover the potent energy from municipal waste could be a better option. This study sought to determine the sustainability of WtE projects for energy access to off-grid residents in the North-West province, South Africa. The study used a quantitative research design coupled with field observations and measurement of elements of the waste chain to generate primary data sets. The information was supplemented by secondary datasets on waste information and waste management at local municipalities. Results revealed that some of the classes of waste have the optimum calorific values and moisture content for WtE. The eligibility of a waste class to be used in WtE generation projects is dependent on the quantities generated. The results also indicate that using paper as fuel in the 240 tonnes/day WtE technology would cover more days of operation than plastics and rubber. Based on the 2020 estimated waste quantities, paper would last 234 days of generating about 6,944 GWh while plastics would last 177 days with energy output of 5, 207 GWh. Waste quantities generated in the North-West province could contribute to sustainable energy access to the off-grid informal settlement residents and advance waste management options through WtE. This study contributes to the literature on renewable energy and waste management in the context of green energy in South Africa.
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language English
publishDate 2024
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spelling oai:idr.kab.ac.ug:20.500.12493-19402024-02-09T00:00:20Z Evaluation of energy generation potential from municipal solid waste in the North-West province, South Africa Mapereka Francis Chagunda , Ruhiiga Tabukeli Musigi , Palamuleni Lobina Gertrude * Calorific values Informal settlements moisture content waste classification waste-to-energy Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management is rapidly becoming a severe environmental problem worldwide. Developing countries, especially African cities, are the most affected due to inadequate resources to cope with increasing magnitude and complexity of the waste generated as well as the scarcity of land for disposal. As such, strategies which include waste- to-energy (WtE) generation to recover the potent energy from municipal waste could be a better option. This study sought to determine the sustainability of WtE projects for energy access to off-grid residents in the North-West province, South Africa. The study used a quantitative research design coupled with field observations and measurement of elements of the waste chain to generate primary data sets. The information was supplemented by secondary datasets on waste information and waste management at local municipalities. Results revealed that some of the classes of waste have the optimum calorific values and moisture content for WtE. The eligibility of a waste class to be used in WtE generation projects is dependent on the quantities generated. The results also indicate that using paper as fuel in the 240 tonnes/day WtE technology would cover more days of operation than plastics and rubber. Based on the 2020 estimated waste quantities, paper would last 234 days of generating about 6,944 GWh while plastics would last 177 days with energy output of 5, 207 GWh. Waste quantities generated in the North-West province could contribute to sustainable energy access to the off-grid informal settlement residents and advance waste management options through WtE. This study contributes to the literature on renewable energy and waste management in the context of green energy in South Africa. Kabale University 2024-02-08T06:34:28Z 2024-02-08T06:34:28Z 2023-07-28 Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12493/1940 en Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/ application/pdf International Journal of Renewable Energy Development
spellingShingle Calorific values
Informal settlements
moisture content
waste classification
waste-to-energy
Mapereka Francis Chagunda , Ruhiiga Tabukeli Musigi , Palamuleni Lobina Gertrude *
Evaluation of energy generation potential from municipal solid waste in the North-West province, South Africa
title Evaluation of energy generation potential from municipal solid waste in the North-West province, South Africa
title_full Evaluation of energy generation potential from municipal solid waste in the North-West province, South Africa
title_fullStr Evaluation of energy generation potential from municipal solid waste in the North-West province, South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of energy generation potential from municipal solid waste in the North-West province, South Africa
title_short Evaluation of energy generation potential from municipal solid waste in the North-West province, South Africa
title_sort evaluation of energy generation potential from municipal solid waste in the north west province south africa
topic Calorific values
Informal settlements
moisture content
waste classification
waste-to-energy
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12493/1940
work_keys_str_mv AT maperekafrancischagundaruhiigatabukelimusigipalamulenilobinagertrude evaluationofenergygenerationpotentialfrommunicipalsolidwasteinthenorthwestprovincesouthafrica