Biomass waste upcycling by synergistic integration of gasification, wind energy, and power-to-fuel production for sustainable cities

Abstract

Biomass waste valorization process for sustainable cities has been developed with an integration of wind energy, power-to-fuel (dimethyl ether-DME), and portable water production through reverse osmosis (RO) process. A comprehensive 4E sustainability analysis based on energy, exergy, economic, and life cycle assessment (LCA) has been conducted. In terms of energy, the current process demonstrates an overall energy efficiency of 68 %, along with an exergy efficiency of 48 %, where the thermal energy to power production system exhibits the lowest exergy efficiency. The process yields a surplus electricity potential of 1975 kWh from 10 tons per hour waste valorization and produces 672 m3/day of portable water through RO. Economic analysis results suggest the biomass waste-based gasification process remains economically sustainable up to 67 % operational efficiency, with an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 4 % while coal-based gasification process is not economically sustainable below 100 % operational efficiency with an IRR of 6 %. LCA findings indicate that biomass waste to dimethyl ether production from wind energy utilization is more environmentally friendly with 400 μPt (unit point total) compared to coal energy utilization (650 μPt). This process reflects that sustainable energy production from waste, offering a solution to waste challenges and supporting sustainable city development.