Technoeconomic feasibility review of hybrid waste to energy system in the campus: A case study for the University of Victoria

The primary objective of this research was to analyze the technoeconomic feasibility assessment of hybrid WTE processes (i.e., gasification and hybrid renewable systems) by turning the campus waste into clean electricity and thermal energy. More specifically, the proposed WTE process relies on the use of wastes including papers, woods, plastics, green residues, organic wastes, etc. Solid wastes from the UVic campus (University of Victoria) and the neighbouring areas (e.g., MSWs in CRD) were considered for the feedstock. The potential for generation of 400 kW of renewable electricity and 500 kW of clean heat per day was calculated using approximately 3500 tons of feedstock per year based on proposed standalone gasification system, which could reduce about 1130 tCO2-eq of annual GHG emissions by avoiding the landfill disposal of the waste feedstock. Finally, the technoeconomic feasibility of a hybrid system - e.g., including solar photovoltaic panel, wind turbine, and a biomass gasifier - for a model campus building (ECS building) was assessed by HOMER simulation software to identify the cost-optimal HRES configuration for ECS building. The final HRES system was composed of 245 kW PV, 175 kW wind, 250 kW biomass gasifier and 46 batteries. Subsequently, the system net present cost and the cost of electricity were 2.3 MCAD, 0.0941 CAD/kWh, respectively. Likewise, the operating cost of the proposed HRES system was estimated 44,731 CAD/year. By implementing the proposed HRES system, UVic will save annually 386,000 CAD along with 1039 tons of CO2 emissions.