Extended exergy accounting applied to waste-to-energy facilities location-allocation problem.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Engineering
• Operations Research
• Thermodynamics

Background:

• Rising municipal solid waste (MSW) volumes overload existing waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities, threatening urban environmental safety.
• Current WTE facility location models often overlook thermodynamic efficiency and socio-environmental factors, focusing primarily on economic costs and logistics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and present a novel Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model integrated with Extended Exergy Accounting (EEA).
• To optimize WTE facility locations by comprehensively evaluating thermodynamic, economic, social, and environmental impacts.

Main Methods:

• Development of a Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model.
• Integration of Extended Exergy Accounting (EEA) to assess thermodynamic, economic, social, and environmental impacts.
• Application of the model to a case study for solid waste incineration plant site allocation in Shenzhen City.

Main Results:

• The proposed model generated lower external environmental and social costs exergy compared to current and government-proposed plans.
• The model facilitated the recovery of more valuable products, increasing additional value products by 31.06% and 24.12% respectively.
• Optimized facility layout demonstrated reduced transportation energy consumption and decreased reliance on landfills.

Conclusions:

• Strategic WTE facility location is crucial for sustainable urban development and effective municipal solid waste management.
• The novel MILP-EEA model provides an expandable solution for optimizing WTE facility placement, balancing multiple critical factors.
• This approach enhances resource recovery and minimizes environmental burdens associated with waste management.