Evaluation of waste-to-energy grate incineration power plant drivers and barriers for a small South African city: a swot analysis approach

Abstract

The global share of energy from waste is approximately 0.4% of global energy consumption. The average amount of municipal solid waste generated in South Africa is equivalent to 11 GWh wasted energy. This paper focuses on the drivers and barriers to the establishment of a waste-to-energy (WtE) grate incineration power plant for a small South African city in the North-West Province. It employs strength, weakness, opportunity and threats (SWOT) analysis to analyse the drivers and barriers to implementation of such a plant. Strengths and opportunities were acknowledged as drivers to the establishment of such a plant and weaknesses and threats as barriers. A holistic investigation using a SWOT analysis showed significantly more drivers than barriers. The study proved that SWOT analysis can be used as both a preliminary technology selection tool and an investment decision-making tool