Use of municipal solid waste (MSW)-derived hydrogen in Ecuador : Potential applications for urban transportation

Abstract

This paper performs an assessment of the potential energy-purposed H2 production in Ecuador from municipal solid waste (MSW). Thermochemical and electrochemical paths are considered for MSW conversion. Ecuadorian provincial MSW dis- tribution (2016 data) provides the base information for assessing and constructing maps of the theoretical H production yield and its density per unit area. Additionally, the use of H in fuel cell-propelled urban public transportation is proposed as an end-use consumer. Results show that it is possible to fulfl urban public transportation energy demand in 91% of the country with MSW-derived H2 ; in fact, the three provinces that together generate 57% of the available MSW (Guayas, Pichincha, and Azuay) could satisfy their public transportation diesel fuel demand with MSW-derived hydrogen. In the case of these three provinces, H2 generation could replace by 2.57 times (on average) the local urban transportation diesel fuel demand. Finally, a possible scenario for a non-conventional H2 production path is shown, which could also represent a suitable MSW fnal disposal alternative with benefts to urban mobility.