Technoeconomic Assessment Of Hydrogen Production From Municipal Solid Waste Gasification In Alberta

Abstract

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and divert municipal solid waste (MSW) from landfills, this study assessed the techno-economic feasibility of biomass and MSW gasification to produce hydrogen as a clean fuel for local transportation in Alberta. The results of biomass and MSW gasification indicated this process, coupled with carbon sequestration, can economically produce hydrogen with very low GHG emissions at costs currently below that of renewables paired with electrolysis. The calculated minimum hydrogen selling price (MHSP) from biomass gasification ranges from ~1.9 – 3.0 $/kg for feedstock cost of 33-100 $/kg and increasing carbon price to $170 in 2030. The preliminary estimates for MSW gasification yield a MHSP of ~1.6 – 2.5 $/kg for MSW tipping fee of 0-77 $/kg. Hydrogen production as transportation fuel in Alberta from biomass and MSW is both technically and economically feasible. Especially for MSW, as there are gate fees to incentivize diversion of wastes from landfill as a negative value waste stream.