Performance analysis of energy recovery in an italian municipal solid waste landfill

In this paper an Italian municipal solid waste landfill has been analyzed. The plant, operating since 1998, was designed for landfill gas energy recovery. The aim of this paper is to analyze the performance of this system during its operating time; the authors will also analyze an alternative solution, based on fuel cell technology. The two solutions studied will be compared. An economic analysis will be performed, considering the cost-effectiveness of the current solution in comparison with a solution based on the molten carbonate fuel cell technology, particularly suitable for landfill gas (LFG) energy conversion. The economic analysis will take into account some environmental externalities, such as air pollution externalities, generally not considered in traditional economic profitability assessment. This with the aim of identifying the most economic and sustainable technology for the case studied, as well as providing some new insights regarding LFG energy conversion.