TY - JOUR
T1 - Economic Feasibility of Using Municipal Solid Waste and Date Palm Waste for Clean Energy Production in Qatar
AU - Al-Moftah, Ahmad Mohamed S.H.
AU - Alnajideen, Mohammad
AU - Alafifi, Fatima
AU - Czyzewski, Pawel
AU - Shi, Hao
AU - Alherbawi, Mohammad
AU - Navaratne, Rukshan
AU - Valera-Medina, Agustin
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 by the authors.
PY - 2025/2/18
Y1 - 2025/2/18
N2 - The transition to clean energy is crucial for mitigating the impacts of climate change and achieving sustainable development. Reliance on fossil fuels, which are integral to manufacturing and transportation, remains a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Biomass gasification presents a renewable energy alternative that can significantly reduce emissions. However, proper disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) and agricultural residues, such as date palm waste (DPW), is an increasing global challenge, including in Qatar. This study evaluates the economic feasibility of implementing an MSW and DPW gasification plant for clean electricity generation in Qatar. The country’s growing population and economic development have led to substantial waste production, making it an ideal location for waste-to-energy (WTE) initiatives. Using discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis, the study estimates the capital cost of a 373 MWth facility at approximately $12.07 million, with annual operating costs of about $4.09 million and revenue of $26.88 million in 2023. The results indicate a net present value (NPV) of $245.77 million, a return on investment (ROI) of 84.80%, a payback period of approximately 5 years over a 20-year project lifetime and a net reduction of 206,786 tonnes CO2 annually. These findings demonstrate the economic viability of biomass gasification in Qatar while contributing to reduced GHG emissions and advancing the country’s sustainability goals under Qatar National Vision 2030.
AB - The transition to clean energy is crucial for mitigating the impacts of climate change and achieving sustainable development. Reliance on fossil fuels, which are integral to manufacturing and transportation, remains a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Biomass gasification presents a renewable energy alternative that can significantly reduce emissions. However, proper disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) and agricultural residues, such as date palm waste (DPW), is an increasing global challenge, including in Qatar. This study evaluates the economic feasibility of implementing an MSW and DPW gasification plant for clean electricity generation in Qatar. The country’s growing population and economic development have led to substantial waste production, making it an ideal location for waste-to-energy (WTE) initiatives. Using discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis, the study estimates the capital cost of a 373 MWth facility at approximately $12.07 million, with annual operating costs of about $4.09 million and revenue of $26.88 million in 2023. The results indicate a net present value (NPV) of $245.77 million, a return on investment (ROI) of 84.80%, a payback period of approximately 5 years over a 20-year project lifetime and a net reduction of 206,786 tonnes CO2 annually. These findings demonstrate the economic viability of biomass gasification in Qatar while contributing to reduced GHG emissions and advancing the country’s sustainability goals under Qatar National Vision 2030.
KW - Qatar National Vision 2030
KW - biomass gasification
KW - date palm waste
KW - economic feasibility
KW - municipal solid waste
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85218623009
U2 - 10.3390/en18040988
DO - 10.3390/en18040988
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85218623009
SN - 1996-1073
VL - 18
JO - Energies
JF - Energies
IS - 4
M1 - 988
ER -