Managing the low carbon transition pathways through solid waste electricity

Muhammad Amir Raza; M M Aman; Ghulam Abbas; Shakir Ali Soomro; Amr Yousef; Ezzeddine Touti; Nayyar Hussain Mirjat; Mohammad Huzaifa Ahmed Khan

doi:10.1038/s41598-024-56167-2

Managing the low carbon transition pathways through solid waste electricity

Sci Rep. 2024 Mar 6;14(1):5490. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-56167-2.

Authors

Muhammad Amir Raza^{1

2}, M M Aman², Ghulam Abbas³, Shakir Ali Soomro¹, Amr Yousef^{4

5}, Ezzeddine Touti^{6

7}, Nayyar Hussain Mirjat⁸, Mohammad Huzaifa Ahmed Khan⁹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Electrical Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, SZAB Campus, Khairpur Mir's, 66020, Sindh, Pakistan.
² Centre for Advanced Studies in Renewable Energy (ASURE), NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, 75270, Sindh, Pakistan.
³ School of Electrical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China.
⁴ Electrical Engineering Department, University of Business and Technology, Ar Rawdah, 23435, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Engineering Mathematics Department, Alexandria University, Lotfy El-Sied St. Off Gamal Abd El-Naser, Alexandria, 11432, Egypt.
⁶ Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, Northern Border University, Arar, 91431, Saudi Arabia. esseddine.touti@nbu.edu.sa.
⁷ Department of Electrical Engineering, Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology of Kasserine, University of Kairouan, 3100, Kairouan, Tunisia. esseddine.touti@nbu.edu.sa.
⁸ Department of Electrical Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro, 76060, Sindh, Pakistan.
⁹ Department of Electronics Engineering, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, 75270, Sindh, Pakistan.

Abstract

The potential of solid waste as an energy source is clear, owing to its wide availability and renewable properties, which provide a critical answer for energy security. This can be especially effective in reducing the environmental impact of fossil fuels. Countries that rely heavily on coal should examine alternatives such as electricity from solid waste to provide a constant energy supply while also contributing to atmospheric restoration. In this regards, Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) is used for simulation the entire energy system in Pakistan and forecasted its capital cost and future CO₂ emissions in relation to the use of renewable and fossil fuel resources under the different growth rates of solid waste projects like 20%, 30% and 40% for the study period 2023-2053. The results revealed that, 1402.97 TWh units of energy are generated to meet the total energy demand of 1193.93 TWh until 2053. The share of solid waste based electricity in total energy mix is increasing from a mere 0.81% in 2023 to around 9.44% by 2053 under the 20% growth rate, which then increase to 39.67% by 2053 under the 30% growth rate and further increases to 78.33% by 2053 under the 40% growth rate. It is suggested that 40% growth rate for solid waste based electricity projects is suitable for Pakistan until 2053 because under this condition, renewable sources contributes 95.2% and fossil fuels contributed 4.47% in the total energy mix of Pakistan. Hence, CO₂ emissions are reduced from 148.26 million metric tons to 35.46 million metric tons until 2053 but capital cost is increased from 13.23 b$ in 2023 to 363.11 b$ by 2053.

Keywords: And climate system; Capital cost; Carbon emissions; Energy production; Solid waste.

Grants and funding

NBU-FRR-2023/Northern Borders University