A sustainable optimal biomass waste-driven CCHP system to boost the nearly zero energy building concept

•A waste-to-energy trigeneration system is proposed to produce cold, heat, and power.•A parametric sensitivity analysis is applied to assess impact of some decision variables.•A novel multi-criteria bio-inspired optimization is applied to find optimal sizing.•More than half of system’s total costs rate is related to gas turbine and gasifier.•Optimal outputs: 541 kW electricity, 2052 kW heat, 2650 kW cold, electricity generation cost 0.083 $/kWh. The aim of this work is focused on design of a sustainable tri-generation system driven by a biomass (MSW: municipal solid waste) externally-fired gas turbine cycle and utilizing a double-effect absorption chiller/heater. A robust framework based on energy, eco-exergy, and environmental analyses is developed to access the reliability of this proposal. An innovative optimization approach is then applied to reach the optimal sizing and operating conditions of the designed system. The novel optimization procedure is based on the combination of an Artificial Neural Network and multi-criteria Salp Swarm Algorithm. To make the outputs of the study applicable, a case study building is selected and the developed models are applied for satisfying its electrical, heating, and cooling demands. The building simulation is done with detailed real data and assumptions using by powerful energy architecture software. The results illustrated that the mass flow rate of MSW is the most effective variable on the system performance followed by the compressor pressure ratio. The eco-exergy analysis revealed that almost 40% and 23% of system’s total cost is respectively related to gas turbine and gasifier. At the optimal operation, the system could produce 541 kW of electricity, 2052 kW of heat, and 2650 kW of cold. The levelized cost of electricity generation is obtained as 0.083 $/kWh with environmental factor of 1.33 kgCO₂/kWh.