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In this study, thermodynamic strategies are determined for the energy conversion of Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW) in incineration plants under sub-stoichiometric conditions. Energy generation from MSW is an alternative to mitigate the environmental impacts derived by their final disposal, being the production rate of MSW in Medellin city (Colombia) of about 1800 ton/day. The analysis is conducted by means of a thermochemical equilibrium model of the gasification process, where the effect of moisture content and fuelair equivalence ratio on the thermochemical process is studied. The energy potential of MSW from the city is between 28 and 44 MWe. The thermodynamic strategies for energy recovery from MSW in incineration plants at sub-stoichiometric conditions, under auto-thermal regimens and avoiding ash fusion, establish that the process must be carried out with a fuel-air equivalence ratio between 1.5 and 3.3, regardless of the moisture content of the MSW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the effects of the tax incentives of the Law 1715 of 2014 (Colombian law of renewable energies) on the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of cogeneration plants using forest biomass in the Antioquia Department are analyzed. Generation technologies such as Gasification, Combustion and Rankine Organic Cycle (ORC) were considered based on the energy potential of the forest biomass crops. Three study cases were carried out: 1) LCOE without tax incentives, 2) LCOE with tax incentives, and 3) LCOE with tax incentives considering ten years for assets depreciation. On the other hand, a sensitivity analysis was carried out to evaluate how the LCOE is affected due to changes in the forest biomass cost, the technology cost, the minimum acceptable return rate and the grace period on credits to finance the cogeneration plants. Finally, the results show that the LCOE with the ORC (13,2 ¢U$/kWeh) is the case with the greatest reduction (11,2%), when the incentives of Law 1715 of 2014 with assets depreciation at 10 years, financing the 50% of the initial investment and grace period for 5 years are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]