Abstract
The idea of a circular economy (CE), which differs from traditional linear economy with a high consumption of natural resources and pollution, has captured much interest and attention. This paper uses a CE system of coal power and cement in Kongtong District, Pingliang City, Gansu Province, China as a case study to analyze the comprehensive effects of CE paradigm. Our simulation results, based on system dynamics (SD) modeling, infer that the transformation of manufacturing towards a CE system can prominently help coal power and cement enterprises reduce waste emission and increase economic profits. Through solid waste exchanges, a power plant can achieve over RMB 80 million of additional revenue per year at the highest level. CE also contributes to the reduction of regional pollution, saves mineral resources, and improves the atmospheric environment, an accumulated total of 14.11 million t of natural gypsum and 22.67 million t of coal can be saved. This sets a promising example for coal power and cement plants worldwide. Effective regulatory measures and further optimization towards a circular economy system are essential in maintaining the stable development of a CE system due to the risk of surplus production of upstream industries and other defects.
Highlights
The concept of a circular economy (CE) was first put forward by Pearce and Turner, two British environmental economists [1]
This paper modeled the CE system of coal power and cement in Kongtong and quantitatively analyzed its operational structure and the ecological and economic effects using the system dynamics (SD) method and Vensim software
Waste heat and height difference energy power generation can make up 30% of power consumption of cement plants, and these benefits drive enterprises to positively develop or introduce advanced technology
Summary
The concept of a CE was first put forward by Pearce and Turner, two British environmental economists [1]. Most worldwide case studies concerning CE can be classified into four scales: national, regional, industrial, and enterprise. Studies on national or regional scales have been mainly focused on assessing the development of CE through the analysis of key indicators [8,9,10], and summarizing performance and problems during the developing process of CE in a certain country or region [11,12,13]. Studies on an industrial scale mainly discussed the achievements of cleaner production and economic benefits through the design of CE systems and analyzed problems, which coverSeudstaiinnadbuilistytr2i0e1s7,s9u, 7c8h7 as papermaking [14], building materials [15,16,17,18], metals [19,20], chem2iocfa1l6s [21], logistics [22], etc., and the industrial symbiosis between the various departments in a certain industrial park p[2r3o–d2u5c]t.ion and economic benefits through the design of CE systems and analyzed problems, which Oconvetrheedwinhdoulsetr,ieths essuechstausdpiaepseermxpalkoinregd[1t4h]e, bcuoinldninogtamtiaotnersiaalns d[15re–1a8li]z, amteiotanlsp[1a9th,20o]f, cChEemfricoamls [d2i1f]f,erent perspleocgtiisvtiecss; h[2o2w],eevtecr.,, manodsttshteudiniedsusfotrciaulsesdymmboioresisonbemtwacereon-stchaelevaanriaoluyssisdeapnadrtlmesesntosnitnhea qcueartnatiintative analyisnids uosftrtihael pparrokce[2s3s–o2f5]C. TfsoroffuCrtEhesryosptteimiznaeteiodnto be quantaintadtipvoeplyulsatruizdaiteiodn. of a CE system in the coal power and cement industries, the comprehensive effects of CE system need to be quantitatively studied
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