Techno-economic baseline study for a waste-based biorefinery in South Africa. (December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: van Coller, Ruveix H.; Marx, Sanette
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology reports. Volume 20(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-12
• Subjects: Biorefinery -- Techno-economic -- Waste -- Circular economy -- Liquefaction; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Biotransformation (Metabolism) -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Waste products as fuel -- Periodicals; Waste products as fuel; Organic wastes; Factory and trade waste; Biotransformation (Metabolism); Biomass energy; Agricultural wastes; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biteb.2022.101280
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2589-014X

Abstract

Abstract: A baseline techno-economic assessment for converting organic municipal waste via a novel continuous hydrothermal liquefaction (cHTL) pilot plant is presented. Feed streams, product yields, and product quality were based on real-time data. Pilot plant data was used to estimate the capital investment and operating costs, cashflow and economic indicators for a commercial-scale cHTL plant. Results showed that a return on investment of 31 %, an internal rate of return of 31 %, and a profitability index of 5.5–6.0 could be realized with a satisfactory nett cashflow over an estimated plant life of 20 years. Sensitivity analyses showed that both plant capacity and capital investment had a significant effect on product unit cost. The potential of using cHTL technology to sterilize and co-treat primary sewage with municipal waste was demonstrated for underpinning a circular economy where waste would be re-directed toward new energy products, while offsetting localized municipal operating costs. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: Techno-economic case study of a novel continuous hydrothermal liquefaction plant. Process modelling using real-time data for the conversion of organic municipal waste. Assessment of key indicators on product unit cost by way of sensitivity analyses. Projected plant economics support oil- and exchange rate deficient South Africa.