Potential of electricity generation through anaerobic digestion and incineration technology for selected districts in Lesotho

摘要

In recent years, the rising generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) as well as insufficient electricity generation to meet the needs of the growing population is becoming a huge concern for developing countries. There is a need for alternative energy sources and MSW is regarded as a renewable energy resource that can contribute to the energy chart of Lesotho. This paper therefore assesses the potential of electricity obtainable from MSW of Lesotho using anaerobic digestion (AD) and incineration technologies thereby bridging the gap between environmental sustainability and energy production. The data for the study (i.e. the population growth rate, per capita waste generation rate as well as the waste composition of Lesotho) were sourced from literature, government publications and technical reports. The assessment was based on the available data from four selected industrialized districts that makeup the lowland region of Lesotho. Some of the key results reveal that incineration technology presents the best technological option for the Lowlands region of Lesotho based on the generated electrical energy potential.