Economic assessment of utilization of plastic waste via pyrolysis power plant as low-carbon thermal power station alternative in Sudan

Abstract

For 50 years, the catastrophe in the electricity sector has been endured in Sudan. Although several renewable energy alternatives, such as solar energy and hydropower, have been endeavored for sector recovery, utilizing plastic waste as a sustainable alternative has not been investigated. Therefore, this paper aims to develop a pyrolysis power plant, enabling lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and economic growth. The rigorous power plant flowsheet was simulated using Daniel Wagner simulator (DWSim) software. A techno-economic and CO2 emissions analyses were investigated to compare the performance of the developed pyrolysis power plant to the conventional pyrolysis process. After achieving self-sufficiency in electrical and heating utilities by integrating them within the pyrolysis power plant, excesses were sold as renewable utility options, compensating for the electricity and steam generation via thermal power plants. For a production capacity of 124 GW∙year−1 of electricity and 82,400 ton⋅year−1 of biofuel, the pyrolysis power plant achieved the highest net present value (NPV) of $91.52 million at 700℃, the best internal rate of return (IRR) of 30.1%, and payback period (PBP) of 4.7 years. Markedly, the power plant emits 28% and 80% CO2 (-35.5 ton CO2⋅kgplastic−1) lower than conventional pyrolysis process and landfills, respectively. Attractively, plastic waste-derived power can attain sustainability.