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Waste-to-energy as sustainable source of energy for the booming Chinese economy
Currently, the majority of China's energy needs are still met by non-renewable sources such as coal, which still supplies up to 70% of the country's energy needs, but is responsible for a number of its energy-related environmental problems.
According to a recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO), 7 of the world's 10 most polluted cities are in China and almost two thirds of the country's largest cities fail to meet the organization's air quality standards. With its use of unwashed coal, China is the planet's largest emitter of sulfur dioxide and acid rain plagues about a quarter of the countryside. The World Bank estimates that pollution is costing the country 8-12% of its $1.4 trillion GDP in direct losses
These environmental problems and increased environmental consciousness are giving rise to a new Chinese industrial revolution in clean energy.
But China's interest in alternative energy sources goes beyond environmental and health issues. Its booming economy and soaring international oil prices are key motivators to reduce its reliance on foreign oil and to become economical independent for its energy production.
Over the last years, the Chinese Government has clearly shown its keen interest in environmental protection and alternative energy production.
In 2005, the government passed a renewable energy law that both requires power operators to buy electricity from alternative energy providers and provides economic incentives to such producers.
The government also set a target for 12% of its power generation capacity to come from renewable energies by 2020 - up from a mere 3% in 2003.
One source of alternative energy production they are clearly looking into is Waste-to-Energy(WTE). The ever-growing number of WTE installations is proof that China sees WTE as one of the sustainable solutions to preserve its environment while further developing its booming economy.
Keppel Seghers is keen to strengthen its position as the market leader for imported waste-to-energy solutions in China where we have currently 60% of this market and still growing by bringing our suite of services to even more cities in the country.
Strategic partnership to spearhead our WTE presence in China
In 2004 Keppel Seghers entered into a strategic alliance with China Everbright International (CEI) to offer its waste-to-energy technology on the Chinese market.
China Everbright International Ltd. is a public company listed on the Main Board of Hong Kong Stock Exchange. With China Everbright Holdings Company Limited as its major shareholder, the Company embraces its mission to be "situated in Hong Kong, rooted in China and facing the world". Everbright International has grown into a solid and reputable conglomerate focusing primarily on the businesses of infrastructure, power plant and property development.
In recent years, while actively restructuring its assets, the Company also aims to explore the environmental protection industry in China, with the goal to become a key competitive player in the market.
After three years of collaboration and jointly securing several WTE projects , the alliance between the two companies has proved the right strategy to secure our leading position in the Chinese market for imported WTE technology.
10 Keppel Seghers WTE plants in China
Keppel Seghers currently has a total of 10 Waste-to-Energy installations installed in China.
All together, these facilities are treating over 7000 tonnes of household waste per day. At an average global waste production of about 1.5kg/day per person, that means the Keppel Seghers WTE installations in China are currently turning the waste of over 5 million Chinese citizens into valuable green energy source.
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