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

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.