Energy Analysis of Cofiring Food Waste with Coal for Electricity Generation System

Cofiring food waste with coal for electricity generation has not only reduce fossil fuel costs, but can lower the greenhouse gases (GHGs), NO_x and SO_x emissions. However, there are some pitfalls to impact on its commercialization and sustainable development. The emergy analysis theory provides a new idea quantitatively analyzing the relationship between the natural environment, socio-economic systems and the cofring food waste with coal for electricity generation system. In this paper, as the case of a 140 MW cofiring food waste with coal system in Southern China, the emergy analysis of the cofring food waste with coal for electricity generation system was conducted and its emergy sustainability indices were established. The results showed that the competitiveness of cofiring system was no advantage to the single coal-based power system, but its pressure to the environment is obviously smaller. The cofiring food waste with coal electricity generation system has more sustainable performance than the other fossil power plants.