A review of economic and environmental consequences from waste-based power generation: Evidence from Taiwan

Energy sustainability is keyed to social development, and thus finding renewable and clean energy sources is crucial to modern society. Waste to energy technology is of particular interest in recent years because the feedstock supply is relatively stable and the technology is less influenced by clim...

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Main Authors: Liguo Zhang, Yunling Hu, Liang Cai, Chih-Chun Kung
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2021-03-01
Series:Energy Exploration & Exploitation
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/0144598719900283
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author Liguo Zhang
Yunling Hu
Liang Cai
Chih-Chun Kung
author_facet Liguo Zhang
Yunling Hu
Liang Cai
Chih-Chun Kung
author_sort Liguo Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Energy sustainability is keyed to social development, and thus finding renewable and clean energy sources is crucial to modern society. Waste to energy technology is of particular interest in recent years because the feedstock supply is relatively stable and the technology is less influenced by climate and geographic conditions. This study first reviews this technology, and then provides a case study to explore the potential investment, economic benefits, and environmental consequences associated with such an application. The results indicate that the energy conversion efficiency and net social benefits are highly dependent on the composition of the wastes, the transportation costs, and the distribution of regional population. The results imply that for the application of waste to energy technology to be efficient and effective, the locations of refuse plants play an important role, as well as the recycled rates of municipal solid wastes. Policy implications regarding these points are also discussed in detail.
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spelling doaj.art-4594c8c9faf44420a3992df16fab166e2022-12-21T20:32:17ZengSAGE PublishingEnergy Exploration & Exploitation0144-59872048-40542021-03-013910.1177/0144598719900283A review of economic and environmental consequences from waste-based power generation: Evidence from TaiwanLiguo ZhangYunling HuLiang CaiChih-Chun KungEnergy sustainability is keyed to social development, and thus finding renewable and clean energy sources is crucial to modern society. Waste to energy technology is of particular interest in recent years because the feedstock supply is relatively stable and the technology is less influenced by climate and geographic conditions. This study first reviews this technology, and then provides a case study to explore the potential investment, economic benefits, and environmental consequences associated with such an application. The results indicate that the energy conversion efficiency and net social benefits are highly dependent on the composition of the wastes, the transportation costs, and the distribution of regional population. The results imply that for the application of waste to energy technology to be efficient and effective, the locations of refuse plants play an important role, as well as the recycled rates of municipal solid wastes. Policy implications regarding these points are also discussed in detail.https://doi.org/10.1177/0144598719900283
spellingShingle Liguo Zhang
Yunling Hu
Liang Cai
Chih-Chun Kung
A review of economic and environmental consequences from waste-based power generation: Evidence from Taiwan
Energy Exploration & Exploitation
title A review of economic and environmental consequences from waste-based power generation: Evidence from Taiwan
title_full A review of economic and environmental consequences from waste-based power generation: Evidence from Taiwan
title_fullStr A review of economic and environmental consequences from waste-based power generation: Evidence from Taiwan
title_full_unstemmed A review of economic and environmental consequences from waste-based power generation: Evidence from Taiwan
title_short A review of economic and environmental consequences from waste-based power generation: Evidence from Taiwan
title_sort review of economic and environmental consequences from waste based power generation evidence from taiwan
url https://doi.org/10.1177/0144598719900283
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