Abstract
Depleting fossil fuels and global commitments to reducing emissions have emphasized the necessity of exploring alternative resources to produce chemical fertilizer, specifically urea. This study presents a novel approach to producing eco-friendly urea in Nepal, utilizing municipal solid wastes in combination with hydroelectricity which provides solutions to three major problems namely waste management, surplus hydroelectricity utilization, and reduction of urea imports. The results obtained from the process simulation models developed in the Aspen Plus software reveal that approximately 661 metric tonnes per day of environmentally friendly urea can be produced by harnessing 740 and 220 metric tonnes per day of organic waste and combustible waste respectively, alongside the integration of an additional power supply of 230 MW. Sensitivity analysis on organic waste composition exhibits a constrained effect on the urea yield, whereas alterations in the carbon content of combustible waste exert a comparatively significant influence. The Monte Carlo financial risk assessment substantiates the profitable economic feasibility of the proposed production system, exhibiting a minimal investment risk. The cost of electricity emerges as the predominant factor in determining the levelized cost of urea and hence lowering the electricity prices specifically for urea production is recommended, whereas the waste cost exerts a relatively marginal influence. Additionally, the aggregate carbon dioxide emissions originating from the proposed plant amount to approximately 32.74 kg per metric tonne of urea, signifying a 29 times reduction in emissions when compared with fossil fuel-based urea production.
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