M.S. Thesis: Pre-Feasibility Study of a Waste-to-Energy Plant in Santiago, Chile
By Selva Calixto
Advisor: Dr. A.C. (Thanos) Bourtsalas
Co-Advisor: Professor Nickolas J. Themelis
Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering
Fu Foundation School of Engineering & Applied Science
Columbia University
January 30, 2017
The objective of this study was to assess the viability of the usage of post-recycled materials as a source of energy for a Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plant, using as starting points two earlier Columbia studies of energy recovery from municipal solid wastes (MSW) in Chile. The study is divided into three parts: Chapters 1 and 2 describe the current situation in terms of waste management and the energy sector in Chile. Chapter 3 provides information of the WTE technology, inputs and outputs, and projected WTE plant costs and benefits. Finally, Chapters 4 and 5 develop financial and sensitivity analyses of the project, in which some break-even points will be evaluated.