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Assessing Methane Emission and Economic Viability of Energy Exploitation in a Typical Sicilian Municipal Solid Waste Landfill

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Abstract

Sanitary landfills for municipal solid waste (MSW) represent one of the major anthropogenic source of GHGs emissions and are directly responsible of the climate changes we are facing nowadays. Indeed, the biodegradable organic matter of MSW undergoes anaerobic digestion producing the landfill gas (LFG), whose main components are CH4 and CO2. Therefore, biomethane energy exploitation in MSW landfills will reduce GHGs emission positively affecting the global warming. The aim of the present study was to assess the methane production in a Sicilian landfill by comparing the results from field measurements of methane emission and the estimates achieved by applying different mathematical models. A subsequent energetic/economic analysis was carried out based on the Italian incentive mechanisms. Two different scenarios were simulated for LFG valorization considering either internal combustion engines or micro gas turbines. The evaluation of the economic viability was performed by applying the classic models of the Net Present Value and Internal Rate of Return. The results of the present study showed that the LFG produced in the investigated landfill could be profitably used as energetic source and the economic income due to thermal and electrical energy valorization might positively contribute to the landfill management.

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Acknowledgements

Authors thank “ATO Enna Euno S.p.A.” Company and in particular Eng. Salvatore Rindone for providing the data of waste disposal and for the collaboration during the field campaign. Authors warmly thank Eng. Maria Gabriella Giustra and Eng. Davide Bonasera for their precious help during field campaign operations and data processing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil, Environmental, Aerospace and Materials Engineering (DICAM), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    Daniele Di Trapani & Gaspare Viviani

  2. Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Università degli Studi di Enna “Kore”, Enna, Italy

    Maurizio Volpe, Gaetano Di Bella & Antonio Messineo

  3. School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK

    Roberto Volpe

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  1. Daniele Di Trapani
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  2. Maurizio Volpe
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Correspondence to Daniele Di Trapani.

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Di Trapani, D., Volpe, M., Di Bella, G. et al. Assessing Methane Emission and Economic Viability of Energy Exploitation in a Typical Sicilian Municipal Solid Waste Landfill. Waste Biomass Valor 10, 3173–3184 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-018-0321-y

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