Biogas production and electrical power potential, challenges and barriers from municipal solid waste (MSW) for developing countries: A review study in Iran

Currently, finding a renewable source for energy production and also the problems caused by the production and disposal of municipal solid waste have led researchers to think of ways to generate energy from waste. To produce biogas from waste, anaerobic digestion method is used. In developing countries, including Iran, the production of biogas from municipal solid waste in metropolitan areas is being studied and developed. In turn, this study investigates the potential of biogas production from municipal solid waste in Iran. First, the amount of municipal solid waste produced in Iran was estimated. Then, the biogas production potential and the generated electric power were calculated through mathematical relations. The recorded physical properties of the waste and the volume of the biogas produced by it (PCV, Pdegradable, Pdry, Pmax, Prad, Prl were calculated) showed that Iran has a high potential for biogas production from municipal solid waste. PCV, Pdegradable, Pdry, Pmax, Prad, Prl values for this type of waste in the most populous provinces of Iran (Tehran, Khorasan Razavi, Khuzestan, Fars, East Azerbaijan, Esfahan, Mazandaran, West Azerbaijan and Gilan) were 2171.02, 900.2, 356.35, 1256.45, 262.43, 315.05 MW, respectively.