The Lhasa Phase II Waste-to-Energy (WtE) Plant, developed and operated by SUS Environment, started operations in November 2024. The plant is located in Lhasa, China, one of the highest-altitude cities in the world, where low temperatures and oxygen levels present challenges for waste incineration.
The plant can process over 290,000 tons of waste each year and generate about 150 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually. This amount of electricity is estimated to meet the yearly needs of 60,000 households.
The plant’s design incorporates elements of Tibetan culture to blend with the local surroundings. SUS Environment reports that Tibetan employees make up 31% of the plant’s full-time workforce. Additionally, the company has partnered with Tibet University to create a “Practical Teaching Base” to provide teaching and career opportunities for local students.
SUS Environment has been operating the Lhasa Phase I WtE Plant since 2018, using mechanical grate incineration technology. The technology has been adapted to work efficiently in Lhasa’s high-altitude and low-oxygen conditions. The company states that waste processing and thermal reduction rates at the facility have exceeded design expectations.
Globally, SUS Environment has invested in and built 84 WtE plants, with a total daily processing capacity of 110,000 tons. In addition to this project, China has developed other renewable energy plants. The Dezhou Biomass Power Plant in Shandong Province has an installed capacity of 40 megawatts (MW), while the Qinghai Geothermal Power Plant has a capacity of 30 MW. The Lhasa Phase II WtE Plant reflects the use of waste-to-energy technologies to manage waste and produce electricity, even in challenging environments.
