Techno-Economic Assessment of Electricity Generation from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in Benin City

Nigeria, with its large population, faces the twin challenge of properwaste disposal and generation of adequate electrical power. Onecommonly explored solution is the use of waste to energy facilities whichconverts waste to electrical power, effectively killing two birds with onestone. While this method of waste control is common in the westernworld, it has hardly been employed in Nigeria and Benin metropolis hasno waste to energy facility. The aim of this work is to determine thetechnical and economic implications of establishing and running a wasteto energy plant in Benin metropolis. To carry out a techno-economicanalysis, it was necessary to determine the size and technical propertiesof the plant needed. The size of the facility was estimated based on theamount of waste generated in the city. The technical properties of theplant, like its method of operation and efficiency, were determined fromexisting data. The amount of electricity which could be generated wasdetermined from the energy content of the waste. Samples of the mainconstituents of MSW in Benin City were taken to the lab to determinetheir calorific values and moisture contents using ASTM D5468-02 andASTM D3173 standards. The overall calorific value of MSW in Beninwas then calculated, from which the amount of electricity to be generatedwas deduced. The economic analysis was based on the calculation of abreakeven selling price (BESP) below which the venture would beunprofitable. The BESP was calculated for a variety of scenarios usingthe Excel spreadsheet package. The results of the test revealed that MSWin Benin metropolis has a calorific value of 2.16MWh/tonne of MSW.This would produce a grid output of 0.5MWh/tonne of MSW, or100GWh of electricity per year. The Breakeven Selling Price (BESP)was calculated to reach a minimum of $11/MWh or ₦3,465/MWh (using$1 to ₦315 exchange rate). However, the more likely scenario in Nigeriayielded a BESP of $95/MWh or ₦29,925/MWh