Emission of carbon dioxide in municipal solid waste incineration in Taiwan: A comparison with thermal power plants

Taiwan is currently confronted by problems on dense population and limited space. In this regard, incineration as a widely used waste treatment technology functions as an alternative to landfill treatment. This study emphasizes the comparison of emission characteristics of pollutants such as NOx, SOx, particulates, and global warming gas (CO2) between incinerators and thermal power plants in Taiwan. From the data and construction information presented here, four types of incinerators as defined by different air pollution control devices (APCDs) are discussed. Taiwan's MSW incineration is considered an available and successful technology for renewable energy exploitation as compared to that of other countries. Thus, a comparison of the pollutant control and emission characteristics of MSW incineration showed that its pollutants are much lower than those from thermal power plants. The pollutants emission level (PEL) of different pollutants shows that the particulates, NOx, and SOx in thermal power plants are about 31, 16, and 267 times more than those in incinerators. Estimation CO2 emission level (CEL) values indicate that the CO2 generated from thermal power plants is lower than those emitted from MSW incineration processes. The reasons for this are the different carbon content, heat energy transfer rate, and heating value between MSW and thermal power stocks.