Energy Sustainability in Islands: Waste Management in the Archipelago Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco (Brazil)

Abstract

The increase in population and the acceleration in the pattern of consumption cause a greater generation of solid waste. Among these residues, the urban solid waste that comes from human activities in cities and human settlements is significant. If these are not disposed of correctly, they can cause environmental impacts such as contamination of water, soil and atmosphere. In addition, many municipal solid wastes is toxic to living things. Alternatives to better management are fundamental to raising the environmental quality of ecosystems and the survival of the human species on the planet. Aiming to study a favorable sustainable use of the waste, this article made an analysis about the energy potential of these, advantages and limitations of the process. The research analyzed four types of thermochemical processes and estimated the efficiency of each relative to the gravimetric typology produced by the local population and visitors of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago. Incineration is the least efficient technique, while plasma gasification is the most recommended. When analyzing the cost-benefit of the processes, the conventional gasification is the most indicated, having the capacity to supply about 17.5% of the local residences. Thus, the implementation of thermo-chemical plants may be an alternative to waste management, reducing the economic costs and operational risks of the current process, thereby minimizing potential negative environmental impacts and reducing the population's dependence on other less sustainable sources of electric energy.