Carbon emission reduction potential of municipal solid Waste-to-energy under resource mismatch patterns: Evidence from urban agglomerations in China
Jingyi Zhao, Xin Li, Wei Liu, Lu Chen, Yunqi Yang, Minxi Wang
Abstract
Rapid urbanization exacerbates the contradiction between energy recovery from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and climate change mitigation under regional resource misdistribution. This study establish a high-precision MSW incineration treatment carbon emission accounting inventory based on the activity data of 166 cities and 324 incineration power plants in four major urban agglomerations in China. Based on the identified key drivers affecting the spatial differentiation of Carbon Emission Efficiency (CEE) of municipal solid Waste-to-energy (WTE), we discussed the long-term environmental impacts of energy recovery on integrated regional comprehensive management. The results indicate the share of carbon emissions from WTE increased from 16.18 % to 63.67 %, and the carbon reduction potential from energy substitution increased from 1.19 Mt to 16.63 Mt. The carbon reduction rate of the policy scenario that focuses on energy recovery efficiency is optimal. This study provides a sustainable vision and scientific policy recommendations for promoting integrated regional waste management.