Comparative Review and Assessment of Energy Generation Potential from Municipal Solid Waste Generated in Zimbabwe

Abstract

This study reviewed and assessed the energy recovery potential from the biochemical treatment (landfill gas to energy and anaerobic digestion) of biodegradable waste and thermochemical treatment (incineration and gasification) of waste for 2016 to 2035 and 2010 to 2050 temporal scales in Zimbabwe. The estimation of energy recovery potential from waste will likely motivate the development and deployment of integrated waste management systems that will address the prevailing double challenges of energy poverty and waste-associated environmental and human health impacts. Mathematical models coupled with an extensive literature review were used to estimate the anaerobic digestion, incineration and gasification-derived energy whilst the 2019 Refinement to the 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Guidelines for estimating emissions of methane from solid waste disposal sites (SWDS) was used for landfill derived energy. National mean annual energy generation potential of 129.2 GWh from anaerobic digestion, 415.8 GWh from incineration, and 168.5 GWh from gasification have been estimated for the 2016 to 2035 spatial scale whilst those for 2010 to 2050 temporal scale have been estimated at 131.8, 424.2 and 171.9 GWh for anaerobic digestion, incineration, and gasification, respectively. Considering the landfill gas to energy national annual average electrical power potentials of 43.1 and 66.8 GWh have been respectively estimated for the 2010 - 2050 and 2016 - 2035 spatial scales. The estimated energy potentials from anaerobic digestion, landfill gas to energy, incineration, and gasification contribute 1.5%, 2.5%, 5%, and 2% respectively to the national electricity consumption. The review and analysis showed that an untapped energy potential from waste generated in Zimbabwe's urban centers exists, which requires urgent strategies for its exploration.