Talents amazed by energy eco-park in Yantian

A talent poses for a group at the entrance of the energy eco-park. Photos by Wang Haolan

The power plant at the energy-eco park.

Talents working on the theme of affordable and clean energy in the on-going UNLEASH Innovation Lab in Shenzhen were amazed by the energy eco-park in Yantian District when they toured it Saturday.

The energy eco-park, a modern and environmentally friendly garbage-fueled power plant, integrates such functions as household waste incineration, the popularization of science and industrial tourism, leisure and entertainment.

Camille Burke, a college senior studying electrical engineering at the University of Michigan in the United States, was wowed by the clean and beautiful environment. She said that it is very different from traditional power plants, which are usually ugly and boring.

Her views were echoed by Arpit Dhupar, from India, who works for the company Chakr Innovation. “The eco-park is the best and most beautiful waste processing plant I have ever visited,” he said. “I was so amazed to see absolutely no smoke coming out of the stack that I thought it was probably not running. But it was... and the incredibly low emission levels impressed me the most.”

He learned that the most important thing is that turning waste into energy is possible and creating virtually no emissions is also possible.

Marissa Beatty, who is working on her Ph.D. in chemical engineering at Columbia University in the United States, said she was really impressed by the facility, mostly its ability to exist without being detrimental to the surrounding eco-system.

“The thing that surprised me was how clean the air was around the facility,” she added. “I’m used to waste treatment plants having an unpleasant odor as you approach them, but that was definitely not the case for this particular plant. I think I left with a lot more optimism about how we can handle our waste in a responsible way.”

Catherine Njeri, who is from Kenya and a senior electrical power engineering student at African Leadership College, Mauritius, enjoyed visiting the energy plant because she saw first-hand how feasible it is to convert waste into energy. “Having come from a developing country that is currently struggling with its waste disposal and management, a waste-to-energy plant would be instrumental in providing my country with a solution to its waste crisis, while also improving access to affordable, clean energy to our communities,” she said.