Electricity generation from municipal solid waste in some selected cities of Nigeria: An assessment of feasibility, potential and technologies

In this paper, the potential of municipal solid waste (MSW) for electricity production in twelve selected metropolises in Nigeria using Landfill Gas to Energy (LFGTE), Incineration (INC) and Anaerobic Digestion (AD) technologies is presented with the aim of evaluating the energy potential for each location as well as determining the economic viability of possible waste to energy project. Waste profile of each location was determined using population data obtained from National Population Commission (NPC) located in Ibadan and the per capita waste generation gathered from literature. The economic viability of the projects was determined using levelised cost of energy (LCOE) and Net Present Value (NPV) methods. Some of the key results revealed that Port Harcourt (M6), Abuja (M7), Benin (M5) and Ilorin (M8) are potentially feasible and economically viable for waste-to-energy project. However, Abakaliki (M4), Bauchi (M9) and Jalingo (M10) are less viable for such a project. INC and LFGTE technologies provide the best technological option for waste-to-energy project in term of quantity of electricity that can be generated in the cities located in the Northern part of Nigeria based on the kind of wastes that are being generated at the locations while AD present itself as the technology of choice in the cities located in the Southern region. However, from the point view of economic viability, AD is the best option in all the locations followed by LFGTE. INC technology present the highest LCOE and hence less economical for electricity generation in all the locations. This paper is useful to the investors, policy makers, scientist etc. as it could serve as a source of scientific information for decision making which could lead to optimal investment in waste-to-energy project in Nigeria.