IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jworld/v5y2024i2p11-218d1368438.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Unlocking Energy from Waste: A Comprehensive Analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Recovery Potential in Ghana

Author

Listed:
  • Abdul-Wahab Tahiru

    (Department of Environment and Sustainability Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, University for Development Studies, Tamale P.O. Box TL 1350, Ghana)

  • Samuel Jerry Cobbina

    (Department of Environment and Sustainability Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, University for Development Studies, Tamale P.O. Box TL 1350, Ghana
    West African Centre for Water, Irrigation and Sustainable Agriculture (WACWISA) Tamale, University for Development Studies, Nyankpala P.O. Box TL 1882, Ghana)

  • Wilhemina Asare

    (Department of Environment and Sustainability Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, University for Development Studies, Tamale P.O. Box TL 1350, Ghana)

  • Silas Uwumborge Takal

    (Department of Environment and Sustainability Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, University for Development Studies, Tamale P.O. Box TL 1350, Ghana)

Abstract

Ghana is currently facing a waste crisis that presents considerable risks to its environment, economy, and public health. This investigation evaluates four prospective waste-to-energy options—namely, incineration, anaerobic digestion, gasification, and landfill gas—with the objective of mapping out a sustainable strategy for efficient waste management. Among these solutions, anaerobic digestion stands out as a superior option, offering renewable energy production, valuable bio-product creation, and a comparatively lower greenhouse gas emission effect. A cost analysis further reveals that utilizing biogas from anaerobic digestion is not only environmentally friendly but also economically more viable than relying on light crude oil. Producing 200 MW of energy using biogas costs 36% less, potentially resulting in monthly savings of USD 5.46 million for Ghana. However, several obstacles impede the development of WtE. Inaccurate waste data and a lack of clear policies on waste-to-energy hinder the harnessing of Ghana’s WtE potential. To address this, the study recommends (1) implementing a well-defined national strategy complete with regulations and incentives to attract investments and (2) conducting specialized research to optimize WtE technologies for Ghana’s unique waste composition and context. By surmounting these challenges, Ghana stands poised to secure a sustainable future, simultaneously meeting the targets of Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 11. This entails ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all (SDG 7) and fostering inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and human settlements (SDG 11).

Suggested Citation

  • Abdul-Wahab Tahiru & Samuel Jerry Cobbina & Wilhemina Asare & Silas Uwumborge Takal, 2024. "Unlocking Energy from Waste: A Comprehensive Analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Recovery Potential in Ghana," World, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-27, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jworld:v:5:y:2024:i:2:p:11-218:d:1368438
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4060/5/2/11/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4060/5/2/11/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cudjoe, Dan & Nketiah, Emmanuel & Obuobi, Bright & Adu-Gyamfi, Gibbson & Adjei, Mavis & Zhu, Bangzhu, 2021. "Forecasting the potential and economic feasibility of power generation using biogas from food waste in Ghana: Evidence from Accra and Kumasi," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    2. Woon, Kok Sin & Phuang, Zhen Xin & Lin, Zuchao & Lee, Chew Tin, 2021. "A novel food waste management framework combining optical sorting system and anaerobic digestion: A case study in Malaysia," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).
    3. Kheybari, Siamak & Kazemi, Mostafa & Rezaei, Jafar, 2019. "Bioethanol facility location selection using best-worst method," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C), pages 612-623.
    4. Pulla Rose Havilah & Amit Kumar Sharma & Gopalakrishnan Govindasamy & Leonidas Matsakas & Alok Patel, 2022. "Biomass Gasification in Downdraft Gasifiers: A Technical Review on Production, Up-Gradation and Application of Synthesis Gas," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-19, May.
    5. Navarro Ferronato & Vincenzo Torretta, 2019. "Waste Mismanagement in Developing Countries: A Review of Global Issues," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-28, March.
    6. Ismaila Rimi Abubakar & Khandoker M. Maniruzzaman & Umar Lawal Dano & Faez S. AlShihri & Maher S. AlShammari & Sayed Mohammed S. Ahmed & Wadee Ahmed Ghanem Al-Gehlani & Tareq I. Alrawaf, 2022. "Environmental Sustainability Impacts of Solid Waste Management Practices in the Global South," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-26, October.
    7. Tan, Sie Ting & Hashim, Haslenda & Lim, Jeng Shiun & Ho, Wai Shin & Lee, Chew Tin & Yan, Jinyue, 2014. "Energy and emissions benefits of renewable energy derived from municipal solid waste: Analysis of a low carbon scenario in Malaysia," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 797-804.
    8. Edwina Fingleton-Smith, 2022. "Smoke and mirrors—the complexities of cookstove adoption and use in Kenya," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 3926-3946, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Majdi Anwar Quttainah & Priya Singh, 2024. "Barriers to Sustainable Healthcare Waste Management: A Grey Method Approach for Barrier Ranking," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-19, December.
    2. Mahendra Aryal & Sanju Adhikary, 2024. "Solid waste management practices and challenges in Besisahar municipality, Nepal," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(3), pages 1-23, March.
    3. Carlos Fernando Gonzales-Ortiz & Apolonia Rodríguez-Gonzales & Katja Radon & María Teresa Solís-Soto, 2025. "Development of a Project to Strengthen Environmental Education in Educational Institutions in Bolivia: “Environmental Care with a One Health Approach”," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-13, April.
    4. John Bentil & Seth Braimah & Anthony Frank Obeng, 2024. "Solid Waste Management in Higher Educational Institution: An Investigation Using the SWOT Analysis and the Circular Economy Principle Perspective," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 4(2), pages 1249-1267, June.
    5. Prakash Kumar Sarangi & Rajesh Kumar Srivastava & Akhilesh Kumar Singh & Uttam Kumar Sahoo & Piotr Prus & Roman Sass, 2023. "Municipal-Based Biowaste Conversion for Developing and Promoting Renewable Energy in Smart Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-28, August.
    6. Lyu, Zhengwei & Lan, Hongjie & Hua, Guowei & Cheng, T.C.E. & Xu, Yadong, 2024. "How to promote Chinese food waste-to-energy program? An evolutionary game approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).
    7. Feng, Jianghong & Guo, Ping & Xu, Guangyi & Xu, Gangyan & Ning, Yu, 2024. "An integrated decision framework for resilient sustainable waste electric vehicle battery recycling transfer station site selection," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 373(C).
    8. Beatriz Aibar-Guzmán & Sónia Monteiro & Fátima David & Francisco M. Somohano-Rodríguez, 2023. "The Waste Hierarchy at the Business Level: An International Outlook," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-22, November.
    9. Sarfaraz Hashemkhani Zolfani & Ramin Bazrafshan & Fatih Ecer & Çağlar Karamaşa, 2022. "The Suitability-Feasibility-Acceptability Strategy Integrated with Bayesian BWM-MARCOS Methods to Determine the Optimal Lithium Battery Plant Located in South America," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(14), pages 1-18, July.
    10. Nawaz, Ahmad & Razzak, Shaikh Abdur, 2024. "Co-pyrolysis of biomass and different plastic waste to reduce hazardous waste and subsequent production of energy products: A review on advancement, synergies, and future prospects," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    11. Galina S. Chebotareva & Artyom A. Dvinayninov & Alexey D. Berdnikov & Danil A. Tinarsky, 2025. "Economic Efficiency of Alternative Energy Supply Technologies for Consumers in the Sverdlovsk Region," Journal of Applied Economic Research, Graduate School of Economics and Management, Ural Federal University, vol. 24(1), pages 216-256.
    12. El Mehdi Bouchtaoui & Ayoub Haouas & Mouna Fahr & Aouatif Benali & Abdelfattah A. Dababat & Ayoob Obaid Alfalahi & Khalid Khfif & Abdelmjid Zouahri & Driss Iraqi & Khalid Azim & Abdelaziz Smouni & Fou, 2025. "Harnessing Phosphocompost Extracts to Mitigate Meloidogyne javanica Impacts on Tomato," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-21, May.
    13. Roy, S. & Lam, Y.F. & Hossain, M.U. & Chan, J.C.L., 2022. "Comprehensive evaluation of electricity generation and emission reduction potential in the power sector using renewable alternatives in Vietnam," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    14. Leslier Valenzuela-Fernández & Manuel Escobar-Farfán, 2022. "Zero-Waste Management and Sustainable Consumption: A Comprehensive Bibliometric Mapping Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-24, December.
    15. Nketiah, Emmanuel & Song, Huaming & Obuobi, Bright & Adu-Gyamfi, Gibbson & Adjei, Mavis & Cudjoe, Dan, 2022. "Citizens' willingness to pay for local anaerobic digestion energy: The influence of altruistic value and knowledge," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    16. Asif Iqbal & Abdullah Yasar & Abdul-Sattar Nizami & Rafia Haider & Faiza Sharif & Imran Ali Sultan & Amtul Bari Tabinda & Aman Anwer Kedwaii & Muhammad Murtaza Chaudhary, 2022. "Municipal Solid Waste Collection and Haulage Modeling Design for Lahore, Pakistan: Transition toward Sustainability and Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-39, December.
    17. Giovanni Vinti & Valerie Bauza & Thomas Clasen & Kate Medlicott & Terry Tudor & Christian Zurbrügg & Mentore Vaccari, 2021. "Municipal Solid Waste Management and Adverse Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-26, April.
    18. Santagata, R. & Ripa, M. & Ulgiati, S., 2017. "An environmental assessment of electricity production from slaughterhouse residues. Linking urban, industrial and waste management systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 186(P2), pages 175-188.
    19. Chau, C.K. & Xu, J.M. & Leung, T.M. & Ng, W.Y., 2017. "Evaluation of the impacts of end-of-life management strategies for deconstruction of a high-rise concrete framed office building," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P2), pages 1595-1603.
    20. Yu Duan & Željko Stević & Boris Novarlić & Sarfaraz Hashemkhani Zolfani & Ömer Faruk Görçün & Marko Subotić, 2025. "Application of the Fuzzy MCDM Model for the Selection of a Multifunctional Machine for Sustainable Waste Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-28, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jworld:v:5:y:2024:i:2:p:11-218:d:1368438. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.