Analysis of the use of waste gasification in a hybrid generation system to supply an industrial demand and power grid through cable pooling

Abstract

This article explores the enhancement of a hybrid electricity generation system by incorporating waste gasification and a gas engine (GE), alongside existing wind and photovoltaic sources and batteries. The primary objective is to provide reliable power to industrial consumers while enabling the sale of excess electricity through cable pooling. The research limits are defined by the legal requirements in Poland. A wide range of gasifier-GE power is analyzed. The analysis reveals that the expansion improves consumer demand coverage. Increasing the nominal power of the gas engine further enhances coverage, reaching between 94 % and 99.5 %. In addition, it increases total electricity generation. However, the higher the power, the smaller the incremental gains. While NPV improves with higher GE power, CAPEX rises accordingly. The highest profitability index is observed at an engine power of 1.45 MW, reaching a value of 2.13. Despite the increase in electricity generation by 108–190 % and NPV by 97.6–130.4 %, the expansion results in a decline in the share of renewable energy and a rise in emissions, with increases of 104–142 %. The findings underscore the importance of system parameters in achieving a sustainable balance among energy production, economic viability, and environmental responsibility in hybrid renewable energy systems.