Evaluating the techno-economic potential of an integrated material recovery and waste-to-hydrogen system

Journal article

This study proposes a novel integrated material recovery and waste-to-hydrogen concept in view of enhancing resource efficiency and minimising environmental impact. A comprehensive techno-economic evaluation is conducted on an integrated system consisting of material recovery facility (MRF) and gasification of rejected materials for hydrogen production (Gasification-H2). Valorising these rejected materials through Gasification-H2 system can potentially offer a saving of 1.6 million £/y on disposal cost while diverting significant amount of waste from landfills. Owing to the high market value of hydrogen, the integrated system with material recovery and hydrogen production generates 4 times more revenues than a conventional MRF, though at the expense of higher capital and operating costs. The minimum hydrogen selling price lies in the range of 2.2 £/kg (100 dry t/h of rejects) and 6.1 £/kg (2 dry t/h of rejects). This study concludes that a larger Gasification-H2 system is desirable, i.e. greater than 100 dry t/h of rejects, to compete with the production cost of hydrogen generated from fossil-based systems. It is also recommended that an economically competitive production should comprise multiple MRF integrated with a large-scale Gasification-H2 system.

Authors: Ng, KS; Phan, AN

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Journal: Resources, Conservation and Recycling
• Volume: 167
• Article number: 105392
• Publication date: 2021-01-08
• Acceptance date: 2020-12-28
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.105392
• ISSN: 0921-3449
• Language: English
• Keywords: gasification; waste-to-hydrogen; polygeneration; recycling; circular economy; resource recovery; FFR