Question 14 of 16: Waste-to-Energy Feasibility Assessment

Question 14: Waste-to-Energy Feasibility Assessment (7 marks)

Question text not reproduced: the examination questions are © Engineers and Geoscientists BC. Open the official past paper (linked at the top of this page) to read the question, then follow the worked solution below.

14.1 A feasibility assessment proceeds through the following stages:

(1) Waste supply assessment — quantify the guaranteed long-term (20–25 year) tonnage and composition of combustible waste available (per Q13's methodology), including heating value (Btu/kg, per Q1's definition), since plant sizing and revenue both depend directly on this. (2) Energy demand assessment — characterize the industrial park's heat/steam or electricity demand profile, including base load, peak load and its seasonal/daily variation, and compare it against the steady, largely non-seasonal energy output a waste-to-energy plant can provide. (3) Technology selection — compare mass-burn combustion vs. refuse-derived-fuel (RDF) combustion vs. gasification, weighing capital cost, waste-preparation requirements (RDF needs the Q10-style processing), and reliability track record. (4) Environmental and regulatory assessment — air emissions permitting (particulates, dioxins/furans, acid gases), ash management and disposal, and an environmental assessment process, all of which affect both cost and project timeline. (5) Economic analysis — capital cost, operating cost (including standby/backup energy for when the plant is down for maintenance), tipping-fee revenue, energy-sale revenue (compared against the industrial park's current energy cost, to establish whether a competitive price is achievable), and a full life-cycle cost/benefit comparison against the status-quo alternative (landfilling plus the park's existing energy supply). (6) Public/stakeholder consultation — waste-to-energy facilities are often contentious siting decisions; early and sustained community and regulatory engagement is required alongside the technical assessment, not after it. (7) Contractual/institutional structure — a firm, long-term energy purchase agreement with the industrial park (or its individual tenants) is essential to secure financing, since the plant's economics depend on a guaranteed revenue stream matching its guaranteed waste-supply commitment.