Assessment of Waste-to-Energy Potential of Municipal Solid Waste in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory

This study assesses the waste-to-energy potential of municipal solid waste generated in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, evaluating the technical feasibility of using the city's waste stream as an input for electricity generation or biogas production. Abuja generates an estimated 1,800 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily, which is predominantly landfilled at the Gosa landfill without any energy recovery, representing a missed opportunity for both waste diversion and renewable energy production. A waste characterisation survey was conducted at three transfer stations in Karu, Kubwa, and Nyanya through a four-week waste audit, sorting and weighing representative samples across standard waste fractions. The proximate and ultimate analysis of the combustible and organic fractions were conducted to determine calorific values and biogas generation potential. Waste generation per capita was estimated from weighing records and population data. Results show that the combustible fraction of Abuja's waste has an average net calorific value of 8.4 megajoules per kilogram, sufficient for thermochemical conversion technologies. The organic fraction, constituting 59 percent of total waste, yields a theoretical biogas production of 0.23 cubic metres per kilogram of volatile solids. Assuming 40 percent waste-to-energy conversion at a practical scale, the estimated energy recovery potential equals approximately 14 megawatts of installed electrical capacity. Policy and infrastructure barriers to waste-to-energy implementation in the Nigerian context are reviewed. Recommendations include a pilot anaerobic digestion facility at the Gosa site as an initial demonstration project. Keywords: waste-to-energy, municipal solid waste, energy recovery, Abuja, biogas.