Sustainability Report

Shanghai’s waste-to-energy power plant plays key role in carbon reduction by Ballistic Architecture Machine

Embodied carbon

Carbon Negative

The Baoshan Waste-to-Energy Center achieved a Three-Star rating under China’s Green Building Evaluation Standard, affirming the project’s compliance with Shanghai’s local green building guidelines.

The center has passed Shanghai’s post-construction energy-savings review. It is recognised by the Shanghai Municipal Government as a demonstration site for “One Mountain One Water” ecological integration. This reflects its alignment with municipal sustainability directives.

BIM-based modelling estimates the embodied carbon of the Baoshan Waste-to-Energy Center’s structural and enclosure systems at approximately 15,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. This carbon investment is offset within six months of full operation, owing to the facility’s high-efficiency energy recovery systems.

Through combined heat-and-power generation and the utilisation of biogas from organic waste, the plant offsets around 330,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent annually.

Operational Emissions / Energy

Energy Negative

Waste treatment model

The waste-to-energy facility incorporates an integrated dry-to-wet system, maximising energy recovery and reducing emissions.

Dry waste: Up to 3,000 tonnes per day, incinerated via a four-line system.
Wet/organic waste: Approximately 8,000 tonnes per day, treated with mechanical pressing and anaerobic digestion.

Energy and efficiency

Thermal efficiency: Over 29 percent, which is higher than many global benchmarks.
Annual electricity generation: Approximately 800 million kWh.
Coal displacement: Approximately 280,000 tonnes of standard coal saved annually.
Carbon emissions avoided: Approximately 330,000 tonnes per year.

Advanced flue-gas cleaning utilises semi-dry and dry desulphurisation, activated carbon adsorption, high-efficiency baghouse filtration, and selective catalytic reduction (SCR). The resulting emission levels are:

Particulate Matter (PM): < 10 mg/m³
Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂): < 50 mg/m³
Nitrogen Oxides (NOₓ): < 50 mg/m³
dioxins: < 0.1 ng TEQ/Nm³

This exceeds China’s GB 18485–2014 environmental standards, performing better than the national minimum legal limits set by China for emissions from waste incineration facilities.

Chimney “de-whitening” technology

Baoshan is the first waste-to energy facility in Shanghai to implement chimney “de-whitening” technology. Flue gas is cooled, virtually eliminating visible steam plumes and reclaiming condensed water for plant cooling. This reduces make-up water demand by 18 percent.

Smart management

A Building Management System (BMS) monitors real-time energy flows.
This enhances transparency, efficiency, and operational optimisation.

Afterlife

Adaptive Reuse and Flexible Design Considerations

Adaptive-reuse strategies were integrated during the schematic design phase.

The elevated park deck uses demountable steel connections, allowing separation from the processing halls.
Mechanical and electrical modules, such as boilers, turbines, and conveyors, are bolted for straightforward replacement.
The Museum of Waste pavilion employs a modular dry-build system for disassembly and relocation.

These provisions enable the campus to pivot to educational, community, or mixed-use functions without significant demolition waste.