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Preferential policies promote municipal solid waste (MSW) to energy in China: Current status and prospects

Author

Listed:
  • Zheng, Lijun
  • Song, Jiancheng
  • Li, Chuanyang
  • Gao, Yunguang
  • Geng, Pulong
  • Qu, Binni
  • Lin, Linyan

Abstract

As the largest developing country in the world, China creates a considerable quantity of municipal solid waste (MSW), which is one of the most serious urban pollution sources. Not only can MSW to energy contribute to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by landfills, but it can also generate clean energy to offset the increasing energy requirements. MSW to energy is a novel eco-friendly renewable energy resource and has attracted the attention of both national and local governments with various preferential policies. China׳s MSW to energy development has the characteristics of late starting, large scale and rapid growth, so it urgently needs to present how these policies exert influence on the prosperity of MSW to energy in view of latest situations. This paper initially illustrates the current status of MSW management in China. The application of landfill gas-fired and MSW incineration power generation is then analysed in detail. Meanwhile, the present situation of clean development mechanism (CDM) projects in MSW to energy is presented. In addition, a series of preferential policies and regulations to encourage the expansion of MSW to energy, especially MSW incineration, are offered. Finally, the market potential of MSW incineration power generation is analysed and reasonable suggestions are proposed. Owing to the demand for sustainable development, MSW incineration power generation is capable of significant growth and has tremendous market potential for investors in future decades with the support of the Chinese government.

Suggested Citation

  • Zheng, Lijun & Song, Jiancheng & Li, Chuanyang & Gao, Yunguang & Geng, Pulong & Qu, Binni & Lin, Linyan, 2014. "Preferential policies promote municipal solid waste (MSW) to energy in China: Current status and prospects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 135-148.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:36:y:2014:i:c:p:135-148
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2014.04.049
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    1. Xin-gang, Zhao & Gui-wu, Jiang & Ang, Li & Yun, Li, 2016. "Technology, cost, a performance of waste-to-energy incineration industry in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 115-130.
    2. Delang Claudio O., 2017. "Causes and distribution of soil pollution in China," Environmental & Socio-economic Studies, Sciendo, vol. 5(4), pages 1-17, December.
    3. Chhabra, Vibhuti & Bambery, Keith & Bhattacharya, Sankar & Shastri, Yogendra, 2020. "Thermal and in situ infrared analysis to characterise the slow pyrolysis of mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) and its components," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 388-401.
    4. Zhiliang Chen & Wei Chang & Xuguang Jiang & Shengyong Lu & Alfons Buekens & Jianhua Yan, 2016. "Leaching Behavior of Circulating Fluidised Bed MSWI Air Pollution Control Residue in Washing Process," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-14, September.
    5. Hui Hu & Xiang Li & Anh Dung Nguyen & Philip Kavan, 2015. "A Critical Evaluation of Waste Incineration Plants in Wuhan (China) Based on Site Selection, Environmental Influence, Public Health and Public Participation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-22, July.
    6. Ramos, Ana & Rouboa, Abel, 2022. "Life cycle thinking of plasma gasification as a waste-to-energy tool: Review on environmental, economic and social aspects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    7. Li, Wangliang & Gupta, Rohit & Zhang, Zhikai & Cao, Lixia & Li, Yanqing & Show, Pau Loke & Gupta, Vijai Kumar & Kumar, Sunil & Lin, Kun-Yi Andrew & Varjani, Sunita & Connelly, Stephanie & You, Siming, 2023. "A review of high-solid anaerobic digestion (HSAD): From transport phenomena to process design," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    8. Altaf Hussain Kanhar & Shaoqing Chen & Fei Wang, 2020. "Incineration Fly Ash and Its Treatment to Possible Utilization: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-35, December.
    9. Rajaeifar, Mohammad Ali & Ghanavati, Hossein & Dashti, Behrouz B. & Heijungs, Reinout & Aghbashlo, Mortaza & Tabatabaei, Meisam, 2017. "Electricity generation and GHG emission reduction potentials through different municipal solid waste management technologies: A comparative review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 414-439.
    10. Dongliang Zhang & Guangqing Huang & Yimin Xu & Qinghua Gong, 2015. "Waste-to-Energy in China: Key Challenges and Opportunities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-15, December.
    11. Chuanwang Sun & Xiaochun Meng & Shuijun Peng, 2017. "Effects of Waste-to-Energy Plants on China’s Urbanization: Evidence from a Hedonic Price Analysis in Shenzhen," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-18, March.
    12. Hu, Junfei & Chen, Huanyue & Zhou, Peng & Guo, Peng, 2022. "Optimal subsidy level for waste-to-energy investment considering flexibility and uncertainty," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    13. Simona Ciuta & Tiberiu Apostol & Valentin Rusu, 2015. "Urban and Rural MSW Stream Characterization for Separate Collection Improvement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(1), pages 1-16, January.
    14. Boya Zhou & Chunxia Sun & Hongtao Yi, 2017. "Solid Waste Disposal in Chinese Cities: An Evaluation of Local Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-20, December.
    15. Fei, Fan & Wen, Zongguo & De Clercq, Djavan, 2019. "Spatio-temporal estimation of landfill gas energy potential: A case study in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 217-226.
    16. Santiago Alzate & Bonie Restrepo-Cuestas & Álvaro Jaramillo-Duque, 2019. "Municipal Solid Waste as a Source of Electric Power Generation in Colombia: A Techno-Economic Evaluation under Different Scenarios," Resources, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-16, March.

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