Incinerator in China turns 5,000 tons of waste per day into clean electricity

Energy & Industry

Shenzhen Energy Ring
Shenzhen, China

Gottlieb Paludan Architects and Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects have designed the world’s largest waste-to-energy plant, the Shenzhen Energy Ring.

The plant processes 5,000 tonnes of waste daily, equivalent to approximately one-third of the waste generated by Shenzhen’s 20 million residents. It utilises advanced waste incineration and electricity production technologies while serving as an educational resource for the citizens of Shenzhen.

Client
Shenzhen Energy Environmental Engineering Ltd
Status
Completed
Size
186.144 m2
Year
2023
Collaborators
Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects
Areas of Expertise
Photos
Tian Fangfang

From waste to energy

The building is designed as a simple, conical circular structure, a stark contrast to the traditional rectangular layouts typically associated with industrial facilities. This architectural approach minimises the facility’s footprint and optimises its integration into the surrounding landscape. Central to the plant's design is the innovative permeable envelope, which facilitates natural ventilation, smoke exhaust, and daylighting. The façade consists of steel lamellas coated in a self-cleaning burnt orange finish that encircles the structure. These lamellas work in conjunction with expanded metal mesh to manage airflow and access. An additional louver system on the roof provides natural ventilation while protecting against the weather.

The Shenzhen Energy Ring seamlessly combines technical functionality with education

As one of the first industrial buildings in China to achieve LEED Gold certification, the design incorporates several sustainability-focused features. A 7,400-square-metre photovoltaic array on the roof generates 3.6 million kWh of electricity annually, contributing to the plant’s total annual energy output of 1.2 billion kWh, which is supplied directly to the city’s grid. The building’s daylighting and ventilation strategies reduce the need for electric lighting and air conditioning, making it well-suited to Shenzhen’s subtropical climate.

The Shenzhen Energy Ring seamlessly combines technical functionality with education and community engagement, offering visitors the opportunity to learn about the waste-to-energy process through exhibitions and interactive activities. A 1.1-kilometre rooftop walkway provides recreational opportunities and panoramic views of the landscape while offering insights into the facility’s operations and energy production.

Shenzhen Energy Ring demonstrates that a high-performing energy plant can be just as beautiful, sculptural, and poetic as it is environmentally responsible. By anticipating future adaptive reuse and inviting the public to view its operations, it represents a new model of sustainability for waste-to-energy.

See a video of Shenzhen Energy Ring here

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Energy & Industry

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Thomas Bonde-Hansen

Creative DirectorArchitect MAA