Title: Economic feasibility of refuse derived fuel production from agricultural biomass waste in Durban, South Africa

Authors: Ismail B. Adefeso; Yusuf M. Isa

Addresses: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Durban University of Technology, Steve Biko Campus, Durban 4001, South Africa ' Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Durban University of Technology, Steve Biko Campus, Durban 4001, South Africa

Abstract: The study explores cost implications of alternate use of some agricultural wastes for energy use through refuse derived fuel (RDF) from solid agricultural wastes. The economic feasibility of RDF from agricultural wastes in Durban was carried out. The analysis was performed by determining some economic indices. The total capital cost obtained was $5.70 million while the total revenue from the system was $13.49 million for the entire project life of 13 years (360,000 Kg of ASW). The quantitative economic indices obtained were NR = $0.12 million, rate of return on investment = 17.1%, PBP = 3.4 years, and NPV = $3.53. The total capital cost of $5.70 million is within the budgetary amount allocated for agriculture ($70 million) in the region. The results showed that cost of processing dominated the cost of production but the availability of affordable solid agricultural waste for RDF production minimised the cost of RDF production.

Keywords: biomass; agricultural solid waste; South Africa; refuse derived fuel; RDF; economic analysis; net present value; NPV.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2023.130545

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2023 Vol.31 No.2, pp.135 - 156

Received: 31 Mar 2020
Accepted: 12 Jul 2020
Published online: 27 Apr 2023 *

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