Multi-Criteria Analysis of Waste-to-Energy Technologies in Developed and Developing Countries

Authors

  • Naser Almanaseer Balqa' Applied University
  • Bassim Abbassi University of Guelph
  • Connor Dunlop University of Guelph
  • Kyle Friesen University of Guelph
  • Elliot Nestico-Semianiw University of Guelph

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5755/j01.erem.76.1.25254

Keywords:

Waste-to-energy, incineration, gasification, pyrolysis, MCA

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to utilize a multi-criteria analysis (MCA) to evaluate Waste-to-Energy (WTE) technologies and identify constraints when examining the placement of a WTE facility. From this, the focus is best summarized by determining the optimal WTE technology in developed countries and how the process would change if implemented in developing nations. In this study, incineration, gasification, and pyrolysis technologies were reviewed and evaluated. The MCA evaluated the different WTE technologies based on a variety of criteria considering environmental, financial, social, technical, and waste quality and quantity. Different weighted factors were used for the two MCAs and different alternative weighted factor scenarios were produced to perform a sensitivity analysis on the results. Overall, pyrolysis was found to be the preferred option for the developed and the developing nation in all scenarios. For developed countries, the highest difference in the overall index score (7 %) was found in incineration between the baseline and scenario 4. In developing countries, the highest differences in the overall index scores were found in scenario 3 for incineration (9 %) and pyrolysis (10 %). Although pyrolysis had the highest overall capital cost due to it being the newest technology, the environmental, social, associated risk, and waste benefits were seen to be more significant on the findings.

Author Biographies

Naser Almanaseer, Balqa' Applied University

Department of Civil Engineering

Bassim Abbassi, University of Guelph

I earned my PhD degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Bremen-Germany in 1997. Currently, I am a Professor of Environmental Engineering at the University of Guelph in Canada. I have garnered over 20 years of multidisciplinary academic and research experience in different disciplines of civil and environmental engineering at several educational and research institutions. I was able to initiate research programs committed to the mandates of the academic institutions, however with industry-driven technology transfer.

Connor Dunlop , University of Guelph

School of Engineering

Kyle Friesen , University of Guelph

School of Engineering

Elliot Nestico-Semianiw , University of Guelph

School of Engineering

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Published

2020-03-27

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Section

Articles