A techno-economic assessment on biomass waste-to-energy potential in Cameroon

Nkweauseh Reginald Longfor; Liang Dong; Jian Wang; Xuepeng Qian

doi:10.1088/1748-9326/acfbed

A techno-economic assessment on biomass waste-to-energy potential in Cameroon

Nkweauseh Reginald Longfor
, Liang Dong
, Jian Wang
, Xuepeng Qian^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

57 Downloads (CityUHK Scholars)

Abstract

Biomass waste-to-energy (WtE) offers a critical solution to carbon neutrality through improving the resource recycling and recovery. This study comprehensively assessed how WtE can be implemented in generating electricity for Cameroon with an estimation to the energy potential of anaerobic digestion of three organic waste streams including municipal solid waste, wastewater sludge, and livestock manure. We assessed the energy potential in terms of the theoretical, technical, and economic potentials. The findings highlighted a theoretical energy potential of 936.37 TWh y^r−1 in Cameroon. If only applied to a fraction of organic wastes, the technical potential could reach 48.64 TWh y^r−1. Furthermore, considering the economic costs of technology installation, 17.06 TWh y^r−1 could be generated, and this economic generation potential could supply to 38.9% of the country’s current electricity demand. This study implies that WtE would significantly reduce fossil fuels consumption and greenhouse gases emissions from poorly disposed wastes, to enable decarbonization transition and improve human health in African countries. © 2023 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd.

Original language	English
Article number	104031
Journal	Environmental Research Letters
Volume	18
Issue number	10
Online published	28 Sept 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/acfbed
Publication status	Published - Oct 2023

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13 Climate Action

Research Keywords

biomass utilization
Cameroon
carbon neutrality
circular economy
waste-to-energy

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title = "A techno-economic assessment on biomass waste-to-energy potential in Cameroon",

abstract = "Biomass waste-to-energy (WtE) offers a critical solution to carbon neutrality through improving the resource recycling and recovery. This study comprehensively assessed how WtE can be implemented in generating electricity for Cameroon with an estimation to the energy potential of anaerobic digestion of three organic waste streams including municipal solid waste, wastewater sludge, and livestock manure. We assessed the energy potential in terms of the theoretical, technical, and economic potentials. The findings highlighted a theoretical energy potential of 936.37 TWh yr−1 in Cameroon. If only applied to a fraction of organic wastes, the technical potential could reach 48.64 TWh yr−1. Furthermore, considering the economic costs of technology installation, 17.06 TWh yr−1 could be generated, and this economic generation potential could supply to 38.9\% of the country{\textquoteright}s current electricity demand. This study implies that WtE would significantly reduce fossil fuels consumption and greenhouse gases emissions from poorly disposed wastes, to enable decarbonization transition and improve human health in African countries. {\textcopyright} 2023 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd.",

keywords = "biomass utilization, Cameroon, carbon neutrality, circular economy, waste-to-energy",

author = "Longfor, \{Nkweauseh Reginald\} and Liang Dong and Jian Wang and Xuepeng Qian",

year = "2023",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1088/1748-9326/acfbed",

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T1 - A techno-economic assessment on biomass waste-to-energy potential in Cameroon

AU - Longfor, Nkweauseh Reginald

AU - Dong, Liang

AU - Wang, Jian

AU - Qian, Xuepeng

PY - 2023/10

Y1 - 2023/10

N2 - Biomass waste-to-energy (WtE) offers a critical solution to carbon neutrality through improving the resource recycling and recovery. This study comprehensively assessed how WtE can be implemented in generating electricity for Cameroon with an estimation to the energy potential of anaerobic digestion of three organic waste streams including municipal solid waste, wastewater sludge, and livestock manure. We assessed the energy potential in terms of the theoretical, technical, and economic potentials. The findings highlighted a theoretical energy potential of 936.37 TWh yr−1 in Cameroon. If only applied to a fraction of organic wastes, the technical potential could reach 48.64 TWh yr−1. Furthermore, considering the economic costs of technology installation, 17.06 TWh yr−1 could be generated, and this economic generation potential could supply to 38.9% of the country’s current electricity demand. This study implies that WtE would significantly reduce fossil fuels consumption and greenhouse gases emissions from poorly disposed wastes, to enable decarbonization transition and improve human health in African countries. © 2023 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd.

AB - Biomass waste-to-energy (WtE) offers a critical solution to carbon neutrality through improving the resource recycling and recovery. This study comprehensively assessed how WtE can be implemented in generating electricity for Cameroon with an estimation to the energy potential of anaerobic digestion of three organic waste streams including municipal solid waste, wastewater sludge, and livestock manure. We assessed the energy potential in terms of the theoretical, technical, and economic potentials. The findings highlighted a theoretical energy potential of 936.37 TWh yr−1 in Cameroon. If only applied to a fraction of organic wastes, the technical potential could reach 48.64 TWh yr−1. Furthermore, considering the economic costs of technology installation, 17.06 TWh yr−1 could be generated, and this economic generation potential could supply to 38.9% of the country’s current electricity demand. This study implies that WtE would significantly reduce fossil fuels consumption and greenhouse gases emissions from poorly disposed wastes, to enable decarbonization transition and improve human health in African countries. © 2023 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd.

KW - biomass utilization

KW - Cameroon

KW - carbon neutrality

KW - circular economy

KW - waste-to-energy

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U2 - 10.1088/1748-9326/acfbed

DO - 10.1088/1748-9326/acfbed

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 1748-9326

VL - 18

JO - Environmental Research Letters

JF - Environmental Research Letters

IS - 10

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ER -

A techno-economic assessment on biomass waste-to-energy potential in Cameroon

Abstract

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

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