Energetic and economic feasibility analysis of utilizing waste heat from incineration facility and power plant for large-scale horticulture facilities

•Difference in pipe material had insignificant effect on annual energy cost.•Greenhouse crop growing under high temperature showed less payback period.•HDPE pipe showed 56% reduction of payback period for power plant waste heat.•For incineration heat, HDPE pipe with high temp. set-point was the most economical.

The Korean government plans to establish large-scale horticultural facilities using reclaimed land to improve the competitiveness of the national agricultural sector at the government level. One of the most significant corresponding problems is the ongoing dependence of these facilities on fossil fuel, whereby constant heating is necessary during the winter season to provide the necessary breeding conditions for greenhouse crops. This study investigated the potential applicability of waste heat from incineration facility and power plant for use in large-scale horticultural facilities by evaluating the hot-water temperature, heat loss and life cycle cost as functions of the pipe material and distance between the heat source and the greenhouse. In case of utilizing waste heat from incineration facility, providing heating for greenhouse crop under high temperature set-point with HDPE pipe turned out to be the most economical method, which showed the equipment cost of approximately $4,300,000, annual energy saving cost of approximately $600,000 during winter season and the payback period of approximately 7.16 years based on 16 km distance.