Sign in Subscribe
Renewable energy

Municipal Solid Waste Conversion to Green Energy Offers Significant Benefits

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Municipal solid waste management is a pressing concern globally, with greenhouse gas emissions from conventional waste management practices posing significant environmental challenges. Researchers at Sylhet Agricultural University have developed a numerical model to estimate the combined heat and power (CHP) generation potentiality of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Bangladesh. The study reveals that MSW could generate substantial amounts of electricity and thermal energy, reducing net annual greenhouse gas emissions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The researchers used Aspen Plus software to develop a numerical model to estimate the CHP generation potentiality of MSW in Bangladesh.
  • The study found that MSW in Bangladesh could generate approximately 3,300 GWh/yr of electricity and 6,000 GWh/yr of thermal energy in 2024.
  • The estimated CHP generation capacity of MSW is 0.89 kWh/kg of dry solid (DS) MSW for electrical energy and 1.61 kWh/kg of DS for thermal energy.
  • The research concludes that electrical and thermal energy generation from MSW can reduce net annual GHG emissions of 2,510 Mt CO2/yr compared to similar quantities of CHP generation from fossil fuels.
  • The study identifies 850 °C and an equivalence ratio of 0.2 as the optimal conditions for air-gasification of MSW.

Statistics:

  • 3,300 GWh/yr of electricity and 6,000 GWh/yr of thermal energy could be generated from MSW in Bangladesh in 2024.
  • The estimated CHP generation capacity of MSW is 0.89 kWh/kg of dry solid (DS) MSW for electrical energy and 1.61 kWh/kg of DS for thermal energy.
  • 2,510 Mt CO2/yr of net annual greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by generating electrical and thermal energy from MSW.

Sources:

  • Conversion of municipal solid waste to green energy: numerical studies, Waste Management Bulletin, 2025,3(3):100211
  • NewsRx, Research from Sylhet Agricultural University Provide New Insights into Municipal Solid Waste (Conversion of municipal solid waste to green energy: numerical studies), Ecology, Environment & Conservation, September 12, 2025, p 297.

Read more