Name
A multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) approach to assess ATC technologies for bioresources management
Description

Implementation of advanced thermal conversion (ATC) technologies has the potential to enhance bioresources management while mitigating the risks from land recycling of biosolids. This approach enables energy and resource recovery from sewage sludge as well as minimising ecological challenges (e.g., organic pollutants and microplastics). This article introduces a comparative assessment matrix to facilitate future decision makings over the implementation of ATC processes. This is in light of existing technology overlaps and a range of outputs produced at different operating conditions. The matrix enables examination of ATC processes against a set of high and medium level criteria, selected based on scientific papers and technology provider publications. A weighted-sum MCDM model is pursued for the formation of a matrix to enable the quantification of criteria, including qualitative technology attributes, necessary for successful implementation of ATC at scale. Following this, assigning weights and index scores to criteria based on their importance and severity allows technology assessment from a technical, business model and overall compliance perspective. It is proposed to validate the model including emerging data from the in-flight ATC projects presented at last year's ATC panel.

Authors
Farhad Beik and Peter Winter, Thames Water Utilities, UK
Track
Advanced Thermal Conversion & Biochar