Economic, Environmental and Energetic Analysis of a Distributed Generation System Composed by Waste Gasification and Photovoltaic Panels

Fossil fuel dependency in developed countries is worrisome due to the lack of energy security that traditional energy generation provides. In order to prevent future energy problems and to maintain a sustainable society, some countries are starting to develop renewable energy sources. In this research, biomass energy is introduced as a solution not only to reduce fossil fuel dependency, but also to improve municipal solid waste management. The purpose of this report is to construct a distributed power generation system combining the superheated steam gasification of solid waste and photovoltaic panels, and to verify the feasibility of generating power at the consumption site. It also focuses on optimizing the current waste superheated steam gasification system and compares the superheated steam gasification technology with other waste to energy technologies, such as downdraft air gasification and solid waste direct combustion. Finally, the report analyzes the economic, environmental and energetic viability of the above mentioned distributed generation system, which is located in a medium size mall surrounded by a community of 20,000 inhabitants. As a result, it was found that a distributed generation system composed by waste superheated steam gasification and photovoltaic panels is perfectly feasible, since its long term economic performance shows high profitability.