This study investigated the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) at Ring Road, Dump Site, Agu-Awka, Awka South L.G.A. of Anambra State, Nigeria as a potential source of energy for use in electricity generation in Awka Municipality. Samples of wastes randomly collected from the dump site, combined with data obtained from the Anambra State Solid Waste Management Authority (ASWAMA) were analyzed using bomb calorimeter. Results obtained show that the solid wastes at the dumpsite has an average calorific value of 26.675 MJ/kg, with average water content of 15.4%; on the basis of about 300 tonnes of MSW/day capacity incineration plan, about 1.58 GWh of electricity energy could be generated from the wastes and with gasification plan, about 0.75 GWh could be generated. Net Present Value (NPV) and Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) financial indicators were employed to determine which thermal technique would be the best for a short-term or long term project option for MSW-to-electrical energy generation in the said Municipality with regards to break even and cost. Results showed that the levelized cost of electricity generation in the MSW incineration plant is higher in comparison with gasification plant. Results from the NPV analysis show that using gasification (Scenario C) would be the best for short-term project, having shortest break-even period of 6 years at 6% rate; while Incinerating all the wastes as fuel (Scenario A) would be the best for long-term project, yielding higher revenue after 10 years, especially at 6% rate. More so, scenario A had the least levelized cost of energy followed by scenario C while scenario B (using all except metal and glass with incineration) had the highest. These results could help in making economic decisions on which method of energy recovery to be utilized under given obtainable conditions.

Full text: IJEIR_2457_FINAL.pdf