Techno-economic performance analysis and environmental impact assessment of small to medium scale SRF combustion plants for energy production in the UK

► We examine two combustion plants for energy recovery from solid recovered fuels SRF. ► We perform a techno-economic and environmental assessment of the plants using LCA. ► Environmental burdens are compared with coal, natural gas and electricity-mix plants. ► SRF combustion is environmentally prom...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Process safety and environmental protection 2012-05, Vol.90 (3), p.255-262
Main Authors: Patel, C., Lettieri, P., Germanà, A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Combustion
Life cycle assessment
Solid recovered fuel
Techno-economic analysis
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Summary:► We examine two combustion plants for energy recovery from solid recovered fuels SRF. ► We perform a techno-economic and environmental assessment of the plants using LCA. ► Environmental burdens are compared with coal, natural gas and electricity-mix plants. ► SRF combustion is environmentally promising compared with non renewable alternatives. This paper investigates a techno-economic analysis on small and medium scales: 50kilo tonnes per annum (ktpa) and 100ktpa combustion plants with steam turbine technology utilising solid recovered fuel (SRF). Energy and efficiency calculations for the technical assessment are performed. The economic viability of the two processes is investigated through a discounted cash flow analysis. The levelised cost is used to calculate the cost of production of one unit of electricity. A life cycle assessment (LCA) of the 100ktpa scale SRF plant is performed, where the foundations of LCA calculations reside in energy calculations carried out for the technical analysis. Life cycle inventories were developed using inventory analysis and impact assessment. The results of the LCA are compared with those from equivalent scale coal, natural gas and electricity-mix plants. The LCA is also compared with a landfill reference system. Both scales are economically and technically viable. The SRF plant has a lower global warming potential emission (EGWP) compared with the coal, natural gas and electricity-mix plants and the reference landfill system.
ISSN:0957-5820
1744-3598
DOI:10.1016/j.psep.2011.06.015