Model-based decision-support for waste-to-energy pathways in New South Wales, Australia

Utility operators involved in energy, waste and water sectors are exploring technology options to generate energy in a sustainable way, while also dealing with waste streams including sewage and municipal solid waste from growing urban environments. The resilience.io platform was developed to study long term changes and development in an urban area of region under a range of policy, behaviour, economic and technological scenarios, to meet local resource demands in a cost-effective and sustainable way. A systems modelling approach studying waste-to-energy in New South Wales suggests initial findings are a suitable starting point for further exploration of the potential in the region using this approach as well as complementary tools and methodologies. Model results show 854 GWh renewable energy could be generated through waste-to-energy pathways in 2036