Life cycle assessment of solid recovered fuel for energy sector in declining coal region: Replacement of coal within the regional energy mix

Solid recovered fuel derived from non-recyclable waste represents an alternative energy source suitable for use in waste incineration or combustion facilities. Its adoption reduces fossil fuel consumption in heat and electricity production, thereby mitigating associated environmental impacts. This study evaluates the environmental benefits of substituting coal with SRF in the energy mix of the Moravian-Silesian Region (Czech Republic), a post-coal region currently dependent on fossil fuels. A life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted according to the methodology outlined in EN ISO 14040 and 14044 standards, using the PEF 3.0 method and OpenLCA software, assessing three SRF composition scenarios and four energy conversion efficiency scenarios (WtE and CHP). The study focuses on key environmental indicators, such as "climate change" and "resource use, fossils," which collectively represent over 70 % of the total environmental impacts. The findings reveal that integrating SRF into the region’s energy mix has the potential to significantly reduce the environmental footprint of electricity and heat production. Specifically, the reductions in the "climate change" indicator range from 4.42 % to 35.7 %, while the overall "environmental footprint" indicator shows reductions between 10.86 % and 40.5 %. These findings confirm SRF’s potential as a key tool in transitioning toward a more sustainable regional energy strategy.