<![CDATA[Rapid population growth and urbanization in urban areasparticularly in developing nations and Southeast Asia are driving an increase in municipal solid waste (MSW) generation while simultaneously straining electricity supplies. This study aims to analyze the potential for converting urban waste into electricity (waste-to-energy/WtE) and to evaluate its contribution to energy security and urban sustainability. The methodology employed involves a systematic literature synthesis and meta-analysis based on secondary data from Scopus-indexed publications (2015 - 2024). The synthesis results indicate that thermal and biological conversion technologies can meet up to 27% of urban residential electricity demand, with a projected regional contribution in Southeast Asia reaching 17.26 TWh by 2030. While single-stage thermal conversion efficiency ranges from 20% to 40%, integrating cascaded multi-technology systems can achieve efficiencies up to 60% and enable optimal greenhouse gas emission reductions. Furthermore, the implementation of digital technologies specifically artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) has proven crucial for mitigating the variability of waste feedstock characteristics and optimizing operations. A key gap identified is the scarcity of standardized proximate and ultimate waste analysis data in Southeast Asia. The study concludes that a harmonized regulatory framework, the integration of decentralized hybrid systems, and public-private partnerships are essential to achieving sustainable urban energy security.]]>
