APRIL - 20239Several technologies could be deployed to convert waste to energy, of these technologies conventional incineration, pyrolysis, and gasification. WtE incineration is the process of continuous controlled burning of waste in the presence of oxygen at temperatures of 850°C and above, attached with mechanisms to recover heat and energy another mechanisms to clean flue gasAccording to EPA, A typical waste to energy plant generates about 550 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy per ton of waste.The main benefits of controlled waste incineration are volume reduction and disease control, and it is an applied way to manage municipal solid waste in large or condensed cities as it can be localised in an urbanised zone. WtE incineration also introduces the benefit of using waste as a reliable resource to produce energyThis technology of incineration also reduces carbon emissions by offsetting the need for energy from fossil fuel sources and reduces methane generated from landfills and uncontrolled open burning if used as an alternative to landfilling.In a country like Benin, the municipal solid wastes MSW generated annually is 685,936 ton, so if Benin could reach 100 % conversion of MSW, it could add 377,264.MWh of sustainable energy, improving all dimensions of energy trilemma index. While in Niger, the MSW generated annually is 1,865,645.67 ton, so in the case of 100% conversion of MSW into energy, this could supply Niger with 1,026,105.12 MWh of sustainable and reliable energy. Finally, to ensure successful transformation of waste to energy, African countries need to overcome several barriers, first, the high capital cost CAPEX needed to construct these plants and provide them with the cutting edge technologies needed to convert waste to energy. Second, the operation of these plants will need highly skilled technical teams responsible for the operation and maintenance of these plants to ensure safe and reliable operations, minimising the risks that could arise from such technologies.Third, a legal framework that organise waste collection from the source of generation, waste transportation from points to collection to treatment plants, and ensuring connection between sources of energy generation and utilisation. Fourth, and this is the most significant, a high political commitment supported with a clear vision that aims to transform all the waste generated into a clean and sustainable source of energy. Energy is the main driving force for development all over the world and African countries need more energy that will supply these forms of developments such as infrastructure projects, manufacturing plants, and new cities that will contain millions of residents need safe, reliable, and sustainable source of energy
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