Economic and life cycle assessment of novel hybrid energy and fuel generation systems from municipal waste through plasma gasification and anaerobic digestion coupled with carbon capture and storage

Energy Research & Social Science

December 2025

This research investigates how plastic and food waste can be converted into useful energy products, including electricity, heating, cooling, and liquid biomethane, while minimising carbon emissions. Two system configurations were designed and assessed alongside three carbon capture and storage (CCS) strategies, revealing the real-world trade-offs between cost and environmental performance. The findings show that integrating CCS raises production costs but delivers meaningful emissions reductions, with some scenarios achieving net-negative carbon outcomes. The study provides the first integrated economic and environmental assessment of this type of hybrid waste-to-energy system, offering practical insights to support engineering development and inform low-carbon waste management policy.