Investigation into the Development of Waste to Energy as an Alternative Energy Source

Abstract

Pakistan, a developing nation, is facing a critical crisis regarding its fossil fuel resources and the production of electrical energy. The country's electricity demand has reached approximately 29,000 MW, while the generation capacity is only 22,000 MW. This significant gap between generation and demand has led to load-shedding. To address this issue, we are considering the development of waste-to-energy plants, which are waste management facilities that utilize combustion to generate electricity. Instead of relying on traditional fossil fuels like coal, oil, or natural gas, waste-to-energy plants use trash as a fuel source. By burning this fuel, heat is produced, which heats water to generate steam that drives a turbine, ultimately creating electricity. While waste-to-energy is often portrayed as a viable method for extracting energy from available resources, it does pose challenges to the circular economy. This approach generates toxic waste, contributes to air pollution, and exacerbates climate change. These plants emit chemicals such as mercury and dioxins, which pose risks to human and environmental health. To address these concerns, we aim to investigate the development of waste-to-energy as an alternative energy source while prioritizing creating a healthy environment. As part of this effort, we intend to implement a sensor network to detect the heat generated during incineration and monitor the emission of pollutants. Our overarching goal is to generate electricity while recycling waste materials as much as possible, thus promoting a sustainable and eco-friendly approach.