Waste-to-energy appears to be a viable solid waste management alternative for Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Cuba (GTMO). This facility can produce clean, renewable electrical energy and/or heat through the combustion of municipal solid waste (MSW) in specially-designed power plants equipped with state-of-the-art air pollution control equipment. Trash volume can be reduced by 90 percent, and the remaining residue can be disposed in the existing unlined landfill. Further, implementation of such a solid waste-to-energy solution would enable GTMO and the Department of Defense to achieve the renewable energy goals identified in Section 203 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the President’s Executive Order 13423.
SCS utilized the methodology developed in the Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC 3-240-05A) and the EPA Resource Recovery Management Model (SW-768) for the completion of the Incineration Assessment for implementation of a modular incineration facility. This assessment provided information on the following key decision-making variables such as: facility sizing; environmental permit requirements; and ash disposal options.
SCS collected data to quantify the volume of potential waste quantities, seasonal fluctuations, if any, composition (and average waste heating values) which would be available for incineration. An assessment was made of future projections of combustible waste to be generated, which then would be available for potential incineration. This information was used to correctly size the incineration unit.
A list of potential manufacturers/contractors was developed and contacted to gather pertinent information as part of the specification process. A survey form was then developed to help assist in this effort, and enabled SCS to compare key parameters about each technology and/or manufacturer.
As part of the effort, SCS developed an economic/financial spreadsheet model of the proposed incineration facility along with supporting assumptions, calculations, and references. The model enabled evaluation of potential options in terms of present value costs The overall economic model summarized details on the following cost parameters:
- Initial capital costs
- Operating and Maintenance Cost
- Equipment life and replacement
- Cost per ton in terms of present value costs
The Navy has requested funding for the project and anticipates procurement in 2009.
