Possibilities for Intensifying the Energy Recovery Process From Residual Municipal Solid Waste
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The environmental and energy aspects of energy recovery from residual municipal solid waste and derived solid fuels as a local alternative fuel for partial substitution of natural gas in Ukraine’s district heating systems have been analyzed. The study evaluates how these waste-derived fuels can contribute to decarbonization and enhance the sustainability of municipal energy supply. Under Ukrainian conditions, the production of “green” hydrogen from water by electrolysis is considered feasible, provided that electricity for the process is sourced exclusively from renewable energy. This approach ensures zero carbon dioxide emissions and simultaneously produces a valuable by-product — technical oxygen. The strategy aligns with the European Union’s policy objectives for decarbonizing industrial and municipal enterprises while enhancing the energy security of district heating networks in Ukrainian cities. Experimental investigations have been carried out to assess the thermal and environmental performance of municipal solid waste combustion under conditions of hydrogen enrichment in the base fuel and oxygen-enriched combustion air. Temperature profiles within the furnace were analyzed during the combustion of propane–butane, refuse-derived fuel (RDF), and wood waste, with additional oxygen introduced into the combustion air. The effects of supplementary oxygen on the formation of toxic compounds were also evaluated, alongside the influence of hydrogen enrichment on the combustion characteristics of propane–butane. Based on these observations, a concept has been proposed for the utilization of by-product oxygen to elevate the combustion temperature of municipal solid waste and derived fuels. The findings indicate that increasing the combustion temperature above 850 °C through oxygen enrichment effectively prevents the formation of dioxins and furans, thereby reducing the costs associated with subsequent flue gas treatment. This approach provides a feasible pathway for improving both the environmental and energy efficiency performance of municipal solid waste-to-energy systems, highlighting its potential as a key strategy for sustainable urban energy management in Ukraine. Bibl. 20, Fig. 7.
Language: English
Subfield: Waste Management and Disposal
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7168079136