Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Costs of Production of Diesel and Jet Fuel from Municipal Solid Waste

Environ Sci Technol. 2018 Nov 6;52(21):12055-12065. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.7b04277. Epub 2018 Oct 17.

Abstract

This paper quantifies and compares the life cycle GHG emissions and costs of production of diesel and jet fuel derived from municipal solid waste (MSW) in the United States via three thermochemical conversion pathways: conventional gasification and Fischer-Tropsch (FT middle distillate, MD), plasma gasification and Fischer-Tropsch (Plasma FT MD), and conventional gasification, catalytic alcohol synthesis, and alcohol-to-jet upgrading (ATJ MD). We use expanded system boundaries to capture the change in existing MSW use and disposal, and account for parameter uncertainty with Monte Carlo simulations. We estimate median life cycle GHG emissions of 32.9, 62.3, and 52.7 gCO2e/MJ for FT, Plasma FT and ATJ MD fuels, respectively, compared to a baseline of 90 gCO2e/MJ for conventional MD fuels. Median minimum selling prices are estimated at 0.99, 1.78, and 1.20 $ per liter with the probability of achieving a positive net present value of fuel production at market prices of 14%, 0.1% and 7% for FT, Plasma FT and ATJ MD fuels, respectively. If the societal perspective rather than an investor's perspective is evaluated, then the probability of positive net present value of fuel production increases to 93%, 67%, and 92.5% for the FT, Plasma FT, and ATJ MD fuels, respectively.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Costs and Cost Analysis
  • Greenhouse Effect
  • Greenhouse Gases*
  • Solid Waste*
  • Uncertainty
  • United States

Substances

  • Greenhouse Gases
  • Solid Waste