Production of thermoelectric power from solid waste of some educational institutions of Lahore

Abstract

This research article integrates the work undertaken in sustainable development context by Lahore School of Economics to study feasibility of production of thermoelectric power by incineration of biomass of solid waste of Lahore School of Economics (LSE), Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Kinnaird College (KC) and Government College University Lahore (GCUL). The researchers collected requisite data concerning production and disposal of solid waste from scheduled institutions and that concerning the production of electricity from solid waste such as bagasse from Pattoki Sugar Mill. The data were used to design different projects which were subsequently appraised to determine their B/C Ratio, NPV by discounted cash flow techniques and payback period by conventional method. The appraisal of basic projects indicated that the projection was not feasible for scheduled institutions except Government College University Lahore which qualified the criteria of feasibility. Factors that rendered projects non-feasible were the cost of land and insufficient amount of solid waste. The projects could be pulled towards feasibility by changing these parameters. Thus the appraisal provides a solid base for working out strategies to exploit this source at institution to global level to overcome the ongoing energy crises. This policy paper attempts to answer,“ How to work out these strategies?”.