Construction of a large garbage power plant, capable of
generating 200 million kwh of electricity per year, is expected to
start by the end of this year in Guangzhou, capital of southern Guangdong Province.
Guangzhou, capital city
of Guangdong Province
With an investment of 970 million yuan, the Likeng garbage
incineration power plant will be able to incinerate over 2,000 tons
of domestic waste per day, almost one fifth of the city's total,
according to the Guangzhou-based Guangri Group, developer of the
power plant.
The project will adopt the clean garbage power transforming
technology of a Danish company to reduce the emission of waste gas,
according to the group.
Researchers have found that garbage shrinks 90 percent in volume
and 80 percent in weight after being incinerated. Once incinerated,
two tons of garbage can produce the same amount of energy as a ton
of coal.
In addition, the residue can be used as environmentally friendly
paving and construction materials. Garbage power, therefore, like
solar and wind power, is a environmentally friendly means of power
generation, said experts.
Guangzhou, the country's major economic powerhouse, currently
has one garbage power plant, which is able to handle 1,000 tons of
garbage per day and generate 130 million kwh of electricity per
year.
However, the city produces 11,000 tons of domestic waste per day
and the figure is expected to increase to 13,000 by 2010. Most of
the garbage are buried in three landfills at the outskirts of
Guangzhou, which is of potential harm to the environment. (US$1
equals to 7.72 yuan)
(Xinhua News Agency October 20, 2007)