High Capital Costs Research Articles

The net-metering practice in medium-voltage PV-BES prosumers: A techno-economic analysis of the Greek case

Nowadays, the volatile economic conditions alongside the environmental concerns on using fossil fuels for electricity, necessitate the gradual transition from conventional power plants to distributed photovoltaic (PV) systems. To further promote PV installations, various support mechanisms have been introduced; net-metering (NEM) is considered as one of the most important alternating pricing policies. Nevertheless, the ever-increasing penetration of PVs and especially their intermittent nature may lead to unprecedented technical issues related to the reliable grid operation. To tackle these challenges, battery energy storage (BES) systems are used on the premises of PV prosumers, but their relatively high capital costs and limited lifetime hinder such investments. In this paper, a techno-economic model is introduced to evaluate the viability of prospective PV-BES investments of medium-voltage (MV) prosumers operating under the NEM mechanism by taking also into account the capacity degradation of BES. The focus of this paper is the analysis of the NEM program of MV prosumers in Greece. In particular, the case of the university campuses of the Democritus University of Thrace, Greece, is considered, but the methodology is applicable for evaluating other NEM programs and electricity sectors. The impact of various parameters on the viability of the NEM investments is investigated considering different scenarios. Results show that NEM is generally a profitable mechanism, especially, for prosumers with high load demand. Significant parameters that affect NEM profitability are the load demand growth, the PV and BES degradation, the inflation and the discount rate.

METHODOLOGY FOR SELECTING A PROCESS OF ASSOCIATED PETROLEUM GAS UTILIZATION

The utilization level of associated petroleum gas in Russia and in the world is gradually increasing, due to introduction of legislative restrictions and due to realization of the high value of associated petroleum gas as a raw material and energy carrier. At the same time, the usage of dissolved gas is geographically heterogeneous and depends on many factors, including the stage of field development, the subsoil user, and others. The need to increase the level of rational usage of dissolved gas is facing complications in the implementation of relevant projects. The reason lies in the lack of a method for substantiated selection of the most efficient method of utilization in the absence of datum in the early stages of field development; high risks at high capital costs, which is especially noticeable for fields in the later stages.
 The state and subsoil users are interested in creating a unified and objective methodology for selecting the optimal method of associated gas utilization, which, in turn, should ensure the coordination of actions between the government and the oil and gas industry in achieving high efficiency in the development of oil fields and increasing the level of associated petroleum gas disposal. At the moment, there is no such a method, but a number of publications have been devoted to solving this problem.
 The article will outline the main stages and aspects of author’s work on the development of screening criteria tables of disposal methods and methodology for selecting the optimal option for the rational usage of dissolved gas. The work was carried out based on the results of studying the experience of implementing various technologies and the identified limiting factors and was proceeded using the methods of multi-criteria analysis (hierarchical method).

Experimental evaluation of three different dehumidifiers for greenhouses in cold regions

Selecting a dehumidifier is not easy for greenhouse growers because of its high capital and operation cost and new emerging technologies, besides selection variations with crop species, local weather climate, and greenhouse sizes. The technical performance evaluation of various dehumidification technologies in commercial-scale greenhouse settings and their comparative results can give growers the new information needed to select the best dehumidifier. In this study, the field performance of a newly developed state point liquid desiccant (SPLD) dehumidifier is compared with two other commercial dehumidification technologies; direct contact liquid desiccant (DCLD) dehumidifier, and heat recovery ventilator (HRV), in ornamental (rose) and tomato greenhouses. Under the test condition, among the three dehumidifiers, the HRV unit had the highest calculated moisture removal rate (MRR) of 189.1 kg hr-1, the lowest moisture removal cost of 0.022 $ kg−1, and the lowest electricity consumption (0.02 kWh kg−1 of moisture removal). The highest electrical consumption was found in the SPLD unit under the wet mode, with an average of 0.44 kWh kg−1. However, the SPLD-wet mode was the most efficient regarding net energy consumption (0.53 kWh kg−1). The DCLD showed a moderate performance on electrical energy (0.15 kWh kg−1) and net energy consumption (0.775 kWh kg−1) with good indoor humidity control. The SPLD unit under dry mode was similar to the HRV unit regarding moisture removal cost (0.026 $ kg−1) and electricity consumption (0.046 kWh kg−1). The comparative results of this study indicate that a single dehumidification technique cannot be both technically effective and economically cost-saving year-round. Thus, combining a low-cost technology, such as ventilation or a heat exchanger, and an internal dehumidification technology will be the most practical and feasible in cold regions.

Managing the high capital cost of prefabricated construction through stakeholder collaboration: a two-mode network analysis

PurposePrefabricated construction (PC) can benefit construction industry due to its high efficiency, energy saving, consumption reduction and safety. However, the high capital cost is a critical challenge hindering its development in China. The collaboration of PC stakeholders is conducive to improving cost management efficiency and optimizing resource allocation which has been ignored in previous studies. Therefore, this study aims to explore the collaboration paths of stakeholders in the process of solving critical cost influencing factors (CIFs) of PC to reduce costs.Design/methodology/approachFirstly, 25 CIFs and five main stakeholders that affect PC capital cost were identified through literature research and expert interviews. Then, questionnaires were used to investigate the relationship between stakeholders and CIFs from the perspectives of three stakeholder attributes of proximity, attitude and power, respectively. Finally, based on the survey data, three stakeholder-CIF networks from three attributes perspective and a comprehensive network were constructed and used for subsequent social network analysis.Findings(1) Stakeholders mainly show willingness and potential to collaborate on organization and management factors; (2) More stakeholders pay attention to incentive policies and the setting of prefabrication rates and assembly rates, while all stakeholders have the right to facilitate information and resource sharing in the PC supply chain; (3) The comprehensive network shows a core-periphery structure. As core stakeholders, contractor, designer and manufacturer are more likely to actively manage the 14 core CIFs.Originality/valueThis paper innovatively combined stakeholder and cost management in PC, and used two-mode network based on three stakeholder perspectives to reveal the collaboration potential and motivation of stakeholders in PC cost management. The findings not only provide guidance for stakeholders to find potential partners and optimize resource allocation in solving specific cost issues, but also facilitate stakeholders' sustainable collaboration to achieve PC's cost performance.

A Critical Review of the Proposed Hyperloop (Ultra-High-Speed Rail) Project between Mumbai and Pune and Its Broader Implications for Sustainable Mobility in Indian Cities

This review paper examines the appropriateness of a hyperloop line between Mumbai and Pune in India, examining, in particular, its potential economic implications and impact on people. This assessment builds on an earlier in-depth examination by the authors of the key urban and transport planning, technical, environmental, economic and human factors surrounding the hyperloop technology. The current detailed analysis of hyperloop’s expected implications in the Mumbai to Pune corridor is based upon use of a wide variety of existing indicative data from many sources, which are sufficient to provide a very broad “first-step” reality testing of hyperloop’s suitability to India. It could be argued that this is precisely the kind of analysis that should have been conducted, or at least made public, prior to committing to hyperloop in India. The paper highlights many negatives concerning hyperloop’s construction and operation, including a very high capital cost compared to other needed urban transport infrastructure projects in India, a potential lack of patronage due to a range of factors and its potentially exclusive upper income patronage cohort. It is concluded that rather than making a costly mistake, India should address current urban mobility challenges and needs such as bus rapid transit (BRT) and metros in its innumerable cities, whose construction costs are vastly lower than the expected cost of a single hyperloop line. Technology, such as the hyperloop, would need time to mature and gain operational experience. Should any corridor be found suitable, there would still need to be a thorough, detailed benefit–cost analysis together with a dedicated examination of the technology’s broader urban planning implications and less tangible factors. Setting aside the ultimate worthiness of hyperloops, India would need to at least achieve certain preconditions before proposing or pursuing such systems in the country.

Profitability Analysis of Rice Production in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria

The study analyzed the Profitability of Rice Production in Hong Local government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria. A multi stage random sampling technique was used to sample 188 rice farmers. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics for the socio-economic characteristics while gross margin technique and net farm income were used to analyze the profit. The result revealed that rice production is a viable venture as farmers earned a gross margin and net farm income of N68,509.40/ha and N59,152.01/ha respectively. It was further revealed that majority (70.74%) of the respondents were male, 69.68% were within the age of 31-50 years, 68.62% were married, majority (80%) of the farmers having a large household size, 76% of the farmers have attained one form of education or the other and 76.6% of the respondents had farm size ranging from 0.1-1.5ha. Also, the major constraints that farmers encountered were high cost of labour, high cost of inputs, inadequate capital, land fragmentation and inadequate new technology. The study recommends the need for government support in providing usefull intimation that can facilitate farmers’ access to prevailing of price of rice, farmers to be given proper orientation and/or basic trainings in major farm management techniques and with the constraints confronting rice farmers and also there is need for both governmental and nongovernmental organizations to grant soft loan to rice farmers to enable them addressed some of the constraints.

Technical, Economic, and Environmental Review of Waste to Energy Technologies from Municipal Solid Waste

Global municipal solid waste production and electricity demand gradually increased as a result of urbanization, population increase, and economic growth. The appropriate selection of Waste to energy (WTE) technologies needs consideration of energy efficiency, financial, and environmental aspects. This article discusses the technical, financial, and environmental side of existing WTE technologies. Waste-to-energy (WTE) technologies include thermal, physical, biochemical, and bio-electrochemical technology. Pyrolysis, gasification, and incineration are thermal technology used to generate energy from waste in the form of heat and syn-gas. Anaerobic digestion and landfill are biochemical technology to to generate energy from waste in the form of biogas. Physical technology is used to to generate energy from waste in the form of refuse-derived fuel (RDF). Microbial fuel cells (MFC) and microbial electrolysis cells (MEC) are the most recent WTE technology that produces electricity and hydrogen fuel. The results of the assessment of existing technology show that anaerobic digestion and landfill are low-cost WTE technology but have a low potential for energy generation. Plasma gasification is WTE technology with a high potential for energy generation, cold gas efficiency (CGE), carbon conversion efficiency (CCE), and H2/CO ratio, low CO2 emissions, and high operating costs. MEC has a high H2-potential for energy generation, low CO2 emissions, and the highest capital cost. Incineration is a common conversion technology with a low potential for energy generation, high CO2 emissions, and high capital costs. The selection of WTE technologies is influenced by technical, economic, and environmental factors.

Adopting a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Approach to Identify Barriers to Electrification of Urban Freight in India

The economics and social development of cities depend heavily on urban freight. But, despite its obvious benefits, freight transportation has substantial negative externalities. The electrification of urban freight could help mitigate these. However, there exists a paucity of literature on barriers to the adoption of electric freight in the context of developing countries such as India. The present study intends to bridge this gap. It aims to identify the barriers to the adoption of electric freight vehicles (light commercial vehicles) in urban areas by using a fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP), a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) technique. Based on the opinion of 32 experts, it was found that high capital costs, low driving range, and long charging times are the major obstacles to the adoption of electric freight vehicles in India. The results from the present study will assist government officials in identifying bottlenecks and prioritizing strategies for the promotion of electric freight vehicles in India.

Economic and environmental assessment of heat pump integration in thermally coupled hybrid separation

Process intensification of thermally coupled hybrid separation is presented in this paper. Production of ethyl acetate via reactive distillation with a stripper column (RDS) is employed as a basic thermally coupled hybrid separation process. The reactive distillation column has a condenser and a reboiler and the stripper column has a reboiler only. In addition, no auxiliary separation equipment such as a decanter or a regeneration column is required. On the other hand, despite the RDS process being highly integrated, it has several bottlenecks; large equipment (columns and heat exchangers); high external energy requirements for both cooling and heating. Also, it is known for large recycles (liquid and vapor). Therefore, to further intensify the RDS process, including a heat pump is proposed. A mechanical vapor recompression heat pump (MVRHP) is employed to reduce external cooling and heating requirements; to replace conventional energy source (heating steam) by an external source (compressor driven by electricity from renewable sources). Two different alternatives of heat pump-assisted RDS processes are designed. Performance and effectivity of the designed alternatives are compared with original RDS process using several indicators, including energy aspects, process economics, and environmental footprint. Results show that MVRHP can be deployed in the RDS process effectively reducing energy requirements while no equipment size changes (columns) are needed. Heat pump-assisted RDS processes show better economic performance despite higher capital costs. More importantly, when MVRHP is introduced in the RDS process, environmental footprint in form of CO2 emissions is decreased significantly. Finally, heat pump application in thermally coupled hybrid separation is highly recommended despite higher capital costs. Lower amount of emissions and utilization of electricity from renewable sources being the main benefits.

Perspectives of Biogas Plants as BECCS Facilities: A Comparative Analysis of Biomethane vs. Biohydrogen Production with Carbon Capture and Storage or Use (CCS/CCU)

The transition to a carbon-neutral economy requires innovative solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and promote sustainable energy production. Additionally, carbon dioxide removal technologies are urgently needed. The production of biomethane or biohydrogen with carbon dioxide capture and storage are two promising BECCS approaches to achieve these goals. In this study, we compare the advantages and disadvantages of these two approaches regarding their technical, economic, and environmental performance. Our analysis shows that while both approaches have the potential to reduce GHG emissions and increase energy security, the hydrogen-production approach has several advantages, including up to five times higher carbon dioxide removal potential. However, the hydrogen bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (HyBECCS) approach also faces some challenges, such as higher capital costs, the need for additional infrastructure, and lower energy efficiency. Our results give valuable insights into the trade-offs between these two approaches. They can inform decision-makers regarding the most suitable method for reducing GHG emissions and provide renewable energy in different settings.

DESIGNING TECHNO-ECONOMIC OFF-GRID PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM USING AN IMPROVED DIFFERENTIAL EVOLUTION ALGORITHM

Conventional power generation is one of the main contributors to the phenomenon of the greenhouse effect. This has led to a diversification of electricity sources including environmentally friendly energy sources such as solar energy. Off-grid PV systems have gained some traction due to their cost-effectiveness for rural communities. However, the intermittent nature of solar is the main challenge to developing the off-grid PV system. Moreover, the high capital cost of PV systems as well as the storage batteries becomes the main concern for all PV users. Thus, this study aims to optimize the size of the PV system and battery simultaneously and design a cost-effective off-grid photovoltaic system considering various aspects such as battery power, solar irradiance, and PV panel selection while ensuring system reliability. The proposed system was optimized using improved Differential Evolution (DE) and its effectiveness was tested by comparing the results with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Genetic Algorithm (GA). The Improved DE algorithm provides the highest average cost savings compared to other algorithms, which is $500 per year. It is recommended that this method is very useful in the optimization of off-grid PV systems, considering other uncertainties that affect PV system performance.

Electric fields and local heating in additively manufactured nanocomposite parts

Conventional methods of thermoplastic manufacture suffer from high capital costs, while fused deposition modeling (FDM) faces the challenge of poor adhesion between printed layers. We have previously shown that carbon nanotubes can be used as electric field susceptors to locally heat the interfaces between printed layers. We also showed that dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma applicators mounted on FDM nozzles can pass current to printed parts for welding. Little is known, however, about the interaction between the electric field and the printed part. In this work, we simulate the internal heating behavior of printed parts with local variations in conductivity. These studies show that thermal penetration scales with conductive surface layer thickness; the results also indicate that conductive inclusions within parts can create hotspots. These findings explain the heating behavior of FDM printed parts when coupled to a DBD applicator and show that inclusions within the parts could create mechanical defects.

Techno-economic assessment of co-production of edible bioplastic and food supplements from Spirulina

Large amount of plastic wastes harming the environment have raised concerns worldwide on finding alternatives to non-biodegradable plastics. Microalgae has been found as a potential source for bioplastic production, besides its more common application in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industry. In this study, the objective was to techno-economically evaluate the large-scale co-production of Spirulina powder as food supplements and edible bioplastic for food packaging. The scale of production was large enough to satisfy 1% of local (Thailand) plastic demand (i.e., approx. 1200 MT y−1), and 1% of the global Spirulina demand (approx. 1000 MT y−1) as food supplements. Results showed that the co-production of the Spirulina powder and bioplastic revealed an attractive venture with a payback time (PBT) as low as 2.6 y and ROI as high as 38.5%. This was because the revenues generated were as high as US$ 55.6 million y−1, despite high capital (US$ 55.7 million) and operating (US$ 34.9 million y−1) costs. Sensitivity analysis showed differences in the profitability based on variations of major parameters in the study, where the split ratio of biomass used for food supplement versus bioplastic production and the bioplastic’s selling price were found to be the most sensitive.

Profitability Analysis of Rice Production in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria

he study analyzed the Profitability of Rice Production in Hong Local government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria. A multi stage random sampling technique was used to sample 188 rice farmers. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics for the socio-economic characteristics while gross margin technique and net farm income were used to analyze the profit. The result revealed that rice production is a viable venture as farmers earned a gross margin and net farm income of N68,509.40/ha and N59,152.01/ha respectively. It was further revealed that majority (70.74%) of the respondents were male, 69.68% were within the age of 31-50 years, 68.62% were married, majority (80%) of the farmers having a large household size, 76% of the farmers have attained one form of education or the other and 76.6% of the respondents had farm size ranging from 0.1-1.5ha. Also, the major constraints that farmers encountered were high cost of labour, high cost of inputs, inadequate capital, land fragmentation and inadequate new technology. The study recommends the need for government support in providing usefull intimation that can facilitate farmers’ access to prevailing of price of rice, farmers to be given proper orientation and/or basic trainings in major farm management techniques and with the constraints confronting rice farmers and also there is need for both governmental and nongovernmental organizations to grant soft loan to rice farmers to enable them addressed some of the constraints.

Exploring the Potential of Green Hydrogen Production and Application in the Antofagasta Region of Chile

Green hydrogen is gaining increasing attention as a key component of the global energy transition towards a more sustainable industry. Chile, with its vast renewable energy potential, is well positioned to become a major producer and exporter of green hydrogen. In this context, this paper explores the prospects for green hydrogen production and use in Chile. The perspectives presented in this study are primarily based on a compilation of government reports and data from the scientific literature, which primarily offer a theoretical perspective on the efficiency and cost of hydrogen production. To address the need for experimental data, an ongoing experimental project was initiated in March 2023. This project aims to assess the efficiency of hydrogen production and consumption in the Atacama Desert through the deployment of a mobile on-site laboratory for hydrogen generation. The facility is mainly composed by solar panels, electrolyzers, fuel cells, and a battery bank, and it moves through the Atacama Desert in Chile at different altitudes, from the sea level, to measure the efficiency of hydrogen generation through the energy approach. The challenges and opportunities in Chile for developing a robust green hydrogen economy are also analyzed. According to the results, Chile has remarkable renewable energy resources, particularly in solar and wind power, that could be harnessed to produce green hydrogen. Chile has also established a supportive policy framework that promotes the development of renewable energy and the adoption of green hydrogen technologies. However, there are challenges that need to be addressed, such as the high capital costs of green hydrogen production and the need for supportive infrastructure. Despite these challenges, we argue that Chile has the potential to become a leading producer and exporter of green hydrogen or derivatives such as ammonia or methanol. The country’s strategic location, political stability, and strong commitment to renewable energy provide a favorable environment for the development of a green hydrogen industry. The growing demand for clean energy and the increasing interest in decarbonization present significant opportunities for Chile to capitalize on its renewable energy resources and become a major player in the global green hydrogen market.

Process modelling integrated with interpretable machine learning for predicting hydrogen and char yield during chemical looping gasification

Chemical looping gasification (CLG) is a promising thermochemical process for the production of H2. CLG process is mainly based on oxygen transfer from an air reactor to a gasification reactor using solid metal oxides (also called oxygen carriers, (OC)) as oxidants. The unique oxygen separation system of CLG makes it an advanced process with a smaller carbon footprint compared to the conventional gasification process. The other advantages of CLG includes increased efficiency, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and improved process stability compared to conventional biomass gasification. Although CLG is a promising technology, it still faces several challenges such as high capital cost, OC durability, complex reaction mechanism and scalability issues. Some of these challenges can be addressed by understanding the impact of various process conditions on H2 yield and char formation during CLG. The present study proposes a novel integrated process simulation and experimental studies to generate large dataset used for interpretable machine learning (ML) analysis. Three different ML models including support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and gradient boost regression (GBR) were used to develop models for predicting the H2 and char yield during CLG. The GBR outperformed other models for the prediction of H2 and char yield during CLG with R2 value > 0.9. Among the experimental conditions, the temperature (T) and steam to biomass ratio (SBR) were the most relevant parameters affecting H2 and char production. Biomass ash, C, volatile matter (VM) and H content also influenced H2 and char formation. Overall, a combination of SHAP and partial dependence plot helped address the black box challenges of ML models.

Valorization of biomass using deep eutectic solvent: a short review

The current rise in global energy demand has led to environmental concerns such as resource depletion and pollution. This has steered researchers towards exploring different renewable sources to achieve a sustainable circular bio-economy. Interestingly, the abundant nature of lignocellulose biomass (LCB) has attracted a lot of attention in the production of various specialty chemicals and fuels. The valorization of LCB requires that the recalcitrant structure of the biomass be broken down. However, the high capital cost, operating temperature, and several constraints that accompanythe pretreatment process make most of the pretreatment process economically unviable. Therefore, the quest for an environmentally benign pretreatment process led to the discovery of deep eutectic solvents (DES). They are classified as green solvents due to their biodegradable properties, lowcosts, eco-friendliness, enzyme compatibility, facile methods of synthesis, and recyclability. This review aims at giving information on LCB, Ionic liquids (ILs), and DES, the valorization of biomass to produce biofuel, and the recyclability of DES.

Turning CO2 from fuel combustion into e-Fuel? Consider alternative pathways

Carbon capture and utilisation technologies for the separation and conversion of CO2 into chemical products via electrochemical processes (i.e., so called electro-fuels/e-Fuels, or electro-chemicals/e-Chemicals) are envisaged to be an option in the forthcoming decarbonisation of energy and industry, but their effectiveness in terms of carbon emissions avoidance is debated. This work challenges the exploitation of CO2 from fuel combustion for the synthesis of e-Fuels, as opposed to alternative pathways. The investigated conversion routes refer to a case study for the abatement of CO2 emissions from a refinery fuel gas via production of synthetic fuels based on: (i) hydrogenation of CO2 with green H2 (i.e., e-Fuel); or (ii) electrified heating and electrified reforming of the fuel gas. For both options, two products are compared: methanol and Fischer–Tropsch syncrude. The study shows that avoiding CO2 emissions by turning CO2 from fuel combustion into an e-Fuel results in higher electricity demand, higher capital costs, and higher fuel costs than the electrification of heat supply and the direct conversion of the original fuel into a higher value synthetic fuel via electrified reforming.

Assessing the cost variability of emissions abatement in small-scale on-farm anaerobic digestion

Agriculture is considered a hard to abate sector in which 2050 net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets will be challenging. Anaerobic digestion is a technology that can reduce agricultural emissions whilst producing renewable energy and a biofertiliser. In Ireland this technology was previously evaluated to be a high cost of abatement solution. However, it is not clear if the potential variations in anaerobic digestion systems were accounted for in these analyses; scale, plant design, technology, feedstock and biogas end-use differ between systems and can directly impact abatement costs. This study assesses different biogas end-use options (generation of heat, electricity and biomethane) and varying farm sizes for on-farm anaerobic digestion systems digesting grass silage and cattle slurry feedstocks. To evaluate and compare each biogas end-use for the varying farm sizes, the abatement cost and potential was obtained based on the net present value (NPV) and the total discounted GHG emissions for each system configuration. The abatement cost of the on-farm anaerobic digestion systems assessed varied between −7 €/tCO2eq to 816 €/tCO2eq. For a farm with 185 dairy cows, the integration of anaerobic digestion with the use of a boiler to produce heat sold through a district heating network was found to be a financially viable option. Biogas upgrading to produce biomethane was not financially viable due to the high operational and capital costs of small-scale upgrading systems. A key result of the analysis shows that if a single input variable is changed within the system boundary, the financial and environmental performance of a system can be significantly changed. For example, an increase in tariffs and biomethane sale prices can substantially improve the financial viability from +72 €/tCO2eq to −227 €/tCO2eq. Similarly, a higher cost for grass silage feedstock (€43 per tonne) will unfavourably impact the abatement cost; raising it from −7 €/tCO2eq to 492 €/tCO2eq.

Emerging Technologies for Waste Plastic Treatment

The existence of waste plastics and microplastics has caused serious pollution to the ecological environment. Harsh reaction conditions or long reaction time are typically required for the current waste plastic treatment technologies, resulting in high energy consumption and capital cost. Recently, plasma, Fenton, and electrochemical technologies have emerged to upcycle waste plastics under mild conditions and remove microplastics efficiently. The fundamentals and applications of plasma, Fenton, and electrochemical technologies in waste plastic treatment are reviewed. The prospects of these emerging technologies are also discussed, aiming to provide the scientific background, application status, and technical challenges for these emerging technologies for waste plastic treatment.