Waste-water-energy issues in Shenzhen

complex ecosystems and the urban Self-Generation

// Towards a more endogenous approach to the way water-waste-energy ecosystems

and historical artifacts form the conditions for the redevelopment of Guanlan, Shenzhen

ContentsIntroduction of project1. Context2. Regional trends and scenarios3. Project approach and description

Theory and method4. Research definition and boundaries 5. Theoretical framework on complexity6. Problem statement and research question7. Methodology

Ecosystem complexity8. Water system analysis9. Waste system analysis10. Energy system analysis

Urban and historical complexity12. Regional historical development13. Local historical development14. Current situation15. Local systems

Preliminary conclusions Introduction - Theory and method - Ecosystem - Region analysis - urban analysis - conclusion

introduction1. context - shenzhen/ Shenzhen was the first of the so-called Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in China, de-veloped under Deng Xiaoping in 1979 to attract foreign investment. Since then, it has grown from village clusters containing 350000 people to an agglomeration of 12 million.

/ Most growth took place during the 1990s and 2000s. Growth has been declining since then.

/ Almost 50 percent of the inhabitants aremigrants, going up to 90 percent in industrial areas.

/ The average age is below 30

/ Shenzhen faces significant challenges for the future, as it transforms from an industrial-based economy towards a more knowledge based economy.

Introduction - Theory and method - Ecosystem - Region analysis - urban analysis - conclusion

Factories moving north

12

Factories mainly located in the city are slowly moving out,

leaving them out the jurisdic-tion and control of the city.

This causes new problems with pollution

When the SEZ was instituted, the first basin was

Shenzhen Basin (1). As the city developed, more water

was required and three more basins (2) were used

The city is higly dependent on power from the inland coal

plants and nuclear energy along the coastline.

This poses significant caps on growth and sustainability.

Recently, the city started building multiple waste-to-energy plants to cope with

problemsShenzhen and Hong Kongimport 70% of water from Dong river

2

2. TRENDS - transitions and pressures

Higly dependent on inland coal and nuclear along coastWaste-to-energy

plants construction

introduction


2. trends - transition from industrial to knowledge-based economy

Transition

production-induced causal loop

The main causes for the quality of the water used to lie primarily in the production-based cycle. Thoughhousehold-waste contributed, industries were free touse rivers as a wastedump. The local government reacted but did not have enough power to act effectively, and inhabitants had no voice in the matter (Xiaozi, 2004)

consumption-induced causal loop

As the city is likely to transition to a more knowledge-basedeconomy, the causes for pollution change. Rather then polluting industry, which moves north, the population itself becomes the main cause for most of the pollutants and environmental stresses. This corresponds with for instance increased wastewater from households into the canals and people dumping more household waste.

introduction


choice scenariosBusiness as usual

-Continue the extensive development

-Economic growth rate is the first priority whilesustainability is ignored.

-high energy consumption and heavy pol-lution.

Environment-friendly first-protection and improvement of ecological environment of Shenzhen as the top priority.

-whole-process control on environmental pollution.

-phasing-out of polluting, labor-intensive industries

Resource security first

-Targeting the resource short-age bottleneck (water, land, energy)

-Tapping new resources and reducing consumption

-Raising efficiency and reuse

(adapted fr. Shao et al, 2006)

High-end industry first-Change the industrial struc-ture of Shenzhen-Agricultural service industry will replace the traditional agriculture-new technological industry with less consump-tion and emissions.manufacturing enterprises will gradually be phased out.The tertiary industry will take the biggest proportion. With industrial restructuring, urban population pressure will be mitigated.

introduction


Introductiongovernment approachModel

In the case of China, circular economy becomes a model that tries to alleviate the contradiction between rapid growth and the shortage of raw materials and energy (Su 2005).

It focuses on the almost complete redesign of both production and consumption processes.It focuses on three scales, namely:

Local

-Cleaner production

-Industrial ecology

-Ecological modernization

Meso (EIPs)

-Energy cascading

-Sharing infrastructure

-Exchanging byproducts and recycling waste

Macro

-Eco-city

-Sustainable production and consumption


IntroductionApproach from complexity perspective

SHENZEN is uncertainty (bruton et al, 2005)Not only a technical challenge, but a complexly interrelated ecosystem that is codependent on the complexity of urban society and structure for its sustainment. The effects of intervening either in the waste-water-energy sys-tem or the urban system can be uncertain, and prone to adverse effects. Particularly, there seems to be a mismatch between endogenous processes, which are often not even acknowledged, and necessary top down planning on for instance infrastucture and sustainability. Trying to find a balance and synergy between the two appears to be key.

Planning then tries to find the necessary conditions for thepropagation and sustainment of endogenous initiatives, without trying to impose its will, since the outcome is by definition uncertain.

Furthermore, the focus is on refinding the inhabitantsinvolvement in these processes, and on a more autarkic structure.(Tjallingii, 1996)Global

Local

Top-down conditions

Endogenous initiatives

Complex ecosystem

Urban system


Theory and methodresearch definition andboundaries

complex system An open, far-from-equilibrium, networked set of objects, wherein the relationship of the parts gives rise to its collective behaviour through feedback.

water

waste energy

Main research topic

Interrelation1000 m

Highway/tollroadLocal roadSecondary road

N

WaterUrbanization

outside scope-Epistemological issues concerning complexity (philosophy of science)

-Urban farming, though relevant, will have to be relinquished

-Simulation/modelling outside scope


Kuznets environmental curve

-Theoretically, the environmental pollution should first increase as GDP rises.

-Then a tipping point is reached, which correspond with increased public and governmental awareness for the problems and a look for possible solutions.

-However, there are alternative curves where pollution levels out or continues to rise (figure 2), due to global pollution or new toxic substances.

-The effect in Shenzhen can also be ascribed to factories moving, thus only shifting the load in-

Theoretical framework


integration of waste-water-energy Systems

water

waste energyW

ater-to-energy

wast

e-to

-wat

er

Waste-to-energy

Energy-to-waste

Model

/The interrelation between these different systems can be used to close cycles and create a more resilient ecosystem as a whole.These should not be seen on their own, but how theyinfluence the social andeconomic sectors.

Close

Close Close


Energy-to-water


COmplexity - jane jacobs Theoretical framework

organized complexity

Although she was most famously known for her de-scription of the vividness of American cities, the un-derlying argument was of theinherent complexity of urban life. In The economy of cities, she argues this reinforces a positive cycle of growth, a feedback loop.

However, how to analyze this complexity? Portugali (2012) argues that complexity science mightactually be able to incorporate and brign together two distinct forms of planning, namely, empirical, quantitative, scientificized planning and the more qualitative, hermeneutical approach.

Due to the acknowledgment of complexity science of uncertainty, it might allow itself to the freedom to rely on an empirical approach, with acknowledging its constraints in the messy real world.



Initial conditions (history, landscape, culture)

COmplexity - generating behaviour

One of the possible implications of a complex system is the relatively great impact of initial conditions. These initial conditions can be defined as the circumstances before the emergence of a complex system, so before the SEZ.

These initial conditions, coupled with the rules that govern the system, can then lead to a path dependency, which is very hard to avoid.

Eventually, the system will settle in arelatively unpredictable behaviour pattern with emergence of new behaviours from interactions between parts as a common denominator. (Haken, 2012)

path dependency(causal loop and reinforcement)

change in rules(SEZ)

unpredictable behaviour and effects

(urban villages, gentrification, pollution)


Theory and methodProblem statement

Shenzhen, China is located in the Pearl River Delta system in southwest China/ In 1979 it was designated as the first SEZ (Special Economic Zone), leading to massive foreign investment and rapid population growth, from a collection of mostly rural villages with around 300,000 inhabitants to a bustling industrial megacity

with an estimated 12 million inhabitants.

In recent years there was a change in the socio-economic structure of Shenzhen. Factories are moving north or inland, . This a complex problem involving multiple factors, from socio-economic to environmental and infrastructural. Most of these problems are structural, resulting from the rapid growth of the city in the

last thirty years.

One of the areas of redevelopment is the Guanlan River Catchment. It is located in the northern part of the city, outside the original SEZ. Historically a local river trade hub, it has now transformed into a juxtaposition

of urban villages, shopping centres and villa developments near its river banks.

However, it seems that the area faces significant environmental challenges. The complex waste-, water- and energy-ecosystems on which the city relies seems to falter on multiple levels, getting increasingly simplified

and/or centralized. This results in decreasing living conditions and increasing risks to public health and safety. But rapid interventions by the government as a response sometimes have unwanted consequences for the current population, such as gentrification and rising housing costs. Furthermore, the governance of these

issues seems to fall under different government agencies with varying competence and very little interrelation, considering them as mainly technical problems to be solved,

sometimes without regard for unintentional consequences, and not taking into account the capability of the complex city to solve its own problems.


Research Question

//How can we create conditions that foster, incorporate and sustainautarkic, endogenous processes between complex ecosystems and the

urban complexity in the Guanlan area in Shenzhen, China? //

Sub-questions

/ How do the people in the urban villages view the ecosystem they live in? What are thepossibilities to make them more autarkic and integrate them in the process?

/ What are generic strategies that can be used for urban village structures to close cycles in water-waste-energy systems?

/ How can the potential of places such as the Guanlan Market and the canal system be used as a catalyst in the more endogenous approach?

/ What are possible low-tech solutions? Are they feasible in the chinese context?

/ Should the approach to the problem focus on a more autarkic paradigm? How is this achievable?

Theory and method


Theory and methodMethodology

Literature review

Site visit

Semi-structured interviews

Ecosystem analysis

Urban analysis

Problem definition

Regional analysis

Scenario development

Regional strategy

Local scenario -based

roadmap

Conditions

Interventions

Institutional design

Actor/Stakeholder analysis


Songhuajiang

Liaohe

Haihe

Yellow River

Huaihe

Pearl River

Yangtze RiverLegendGrade I III

Grade IV V

Grade > V

RiverWatershed

/ River quality in Pearl River Delta relatively good/ Below grade 3 is drinkable/ However, all grade IV or above level rivers are in Shenzhen

WAter SySTEmriver system pollution


WAter SySTEmMajor riversMajor riversMajor rivers


Hong Kong

Macau

KowloonHong Kong

Guanlan

Guanlan river

50 kmN

Water tap point

Destination

Dong river

Pearl river/Xi-Bei

Pearl river catchment

WAter SySTEm

/Shenzhen rivers are part of the greater Pearl River Delta

/Guanlan river, Longhua district, runs through Da Lang, and used to be animportant trade route.It streams back into the Greater east branch of the Delta

/Focus area is the urban village located along the river and near the old historic market. The river is relatively clean but is very important since tapwater is taken from the end of the river.

Introduction - Theory and method - Ecosystem - Region analysis

1988

2005

1980

WAter SySTEm

/ Since 1980 there has been a rapid decrease and consolidation of the water system.

/ This increases the risk of flooding and increases median pollution of the system.

water area decrease


11.010.510.09.59.08.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

Observed

Quadratic

11.010.510.09.59.08.5

4.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

Observed

Quadratic

11.010.510.09.59.08.5

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

.5

Observed

Quadratic

11.010.510.09.59.08.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

.5

0.0

Observed

Quadratic

17

Shenzhen River Buji River

Dasha river Guanlan River

/ Clear Distinctions between different rivers

/ When the pollution of the rivers is plotted against GDP, we see some clear trends. Shenzen river (the border with Hong Kong) and Buji River have improved as you would expect from the Kuznets Curve. These are both located in the SEZ. However, Dasha river, which is more to west seems to be improiving.

/ The exception is Guanlan river, which is highly influenced by pollution from the factories around Shenzhen. It keeps steadily increasing in pollution.

/ However, recent goverment intervention has significantly increased the quality of the river. Thisbecame apparent after site visit.

WAter SySTEmkuznets curves rivers


Different spatial distribution of pollution

/ Due to the factories moving north, pollution increases there. This in turn pollutes the basins up river, which casuses some riv-ers like Guanlan river to become more polluted.At the same time, rivers in the SEZ become cleaner as a result.

Unsanctioned use of drinking water basins

/ Another consequence of the increasing pressure on the land, is that people actually start using the basins as recreation space. This poses some further health hazards for the entire population

Major water shortages

/ With the increased population comes an increased demand for water. However, Shenzhen and Hong Kong already import 70% of their water. The water shortage will amount to 1000 - 1500 million m3 in 2030 for Shenzhen alone./ An inhibitant of Shenzhen has on average 1/8th of the water access average in China.

WAter SySTEm


effects

Baoan waste-to-energy plant (2011)

/ waste treatment and disposal is mainly doen by governmental agen-cies. In 2009, the total amount of waste was 7.76 million tonnes.

/ 2.57 million tonne in landfills/ 1.92 million tonne incinerated

/ 2 sanitary landfill accounted for the total amount of waste. These will be full in 5 years (expected)

/ Furthermore, there are 7 incineration plants. There was a protest in 2009 about the pollution caused by these. The new strategy is to built waste-to-energy plants.

2009 protest

waste system


WAste system

/ The waste system can basical-ly be divided into two parts;

/ The CSB is the government-controlles entity. However, they are inefficient at clearing allrefuse. The treatment rate is around 67 percent.

/ Much more important are the informal waste collectors. They use public space to sort the waste they find, and then bring it to private companies specialized in recycling a spe-cificcomponent (such as paper). Collective work seems to pay off./ The remaining waste ends up in the water or in backalleys/ public space

Road clean-ing Household

Refuse container

Institutional refuse

Commercial refuse

Collectionsite

Transfer station(Recyclable waste separation

Sanitary landfill, composting

Industrial recycling

Zhang et al (2010)Collection through City Sanitation Bureau (CSB)Collection through private agency

Informal waste collectors


Energy system

/ The main challenge for Shenzhen is its relative dependence on outside sources for energy. It has nuclearpower plants but those do not provide enough power. (Su, Yang, Chen)

/ relatively few emergy diversity, with a low efficiency and medium self-sufficiency

/ Relatively low emdollar ratio, medium emergy investment ratio, and relatively big ratio of export to import

/ Power lines are very visible and form a layer on the first floor, creating vis-ual clutter and sometimes dangerous situations.


infrastructure (1952)

50 kmN

Macau

KowloonHong Kong

Guanlan

Main roadRailroadTrade villages (-hsu)Mountains/greenCities/major villages

Guanlan river

regional structure (1952)


region analysis

Guanlan with infrastructure

50 kmN

Expressroad GuanlanHighwaysLocal roadsMeso levelGuanlan local roads

regional structure (2013)


region analysis

Guanlan river CAtchment/Old city canal system was disconnected from river system. Quality of the rivers increased rapidly in past 5 years (from level 5 to level 3), but water level decreased and canals are still very polluted and used as a waste dump.

Urban villagesRural villages

Factories

Green

ParkWaterNew developmentsFarming

Historical cores

HighwayMain road

Local road

Water purification

N 150000 Introduction - Theory and method - Ecosystem - Region analysis - urban analysis - conclusion

guanlan market / Only remaining market of regional market-system, active untill 80 years ago/ Small scale, recently rebuilt temple/ Linear park along river works at this site, but mostly in the weekend. Still dangerous at night./ Baoan government recently recognized this site as historically valuable, and apparently has plans for redevelopment to commercial/touristic area. Question is whether it can become this and what it would mean for the local population.


1952

1000 m


N

WaterUrbanization

Historical structure (1952)


urban analysis

19521979

1000 m


N

WaterUrbanization



urban analysis

1990

1000 m


N

WaterUrbanization



urban analysis

2000

1000 m


N

WaterUrbanization



urban analysis


1000 m


N

WaterUrbanization

structure (2013


urban analysis

1000 m

Highway/tollroadPrimary roadSecondary road

N

Water

Green/MountainsHistorical market

Road structure

Guanlan market

Industrial

Industrial


urban analysis

1000 m

Highway/tollroadPrimary roadSecondary road

N

Water

Green/MountainsHistorical market

redevelopment

Urban

villa

Golf p

ark


urban analysis

Waste recycling

Informal wastecollection

Main area basinMain area basin

Fragmented water system

local water- and waste-system


urban analysis

urban analysis

200 m N

Park

TreesHill (green)

Waste coll.TowerUrban villaShopping

Courtyard building

Market temple

local structure


urban analysis

urban analysis

pRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS

The Guanlan area is globally quite well-connected, but locally disonnected and monofunctional. Qualities in the area such as the market are underused, but their potential could be misused.

/ The water system is much cleaner then expected, mainly due to interventions by themunicipality. However, this only concerns the larger rivers, while the smaller canals within the city structure remain unintegrated and heavily polluted. Water shortages will remain an ever-increasing problem.

/ Furthermore, the cleaner rivers actually spur a gentrification process, helping construct new expensive housing along the water. The population around it does not seem to benefit and might be even further displaced in the future.

/ The waste system is very informally organized because the formal sector does not work well. Recycling in Guanlan is already significantly taking place, even using public space.

/ The energy system is very undifferentiated and dependent on outside sources. This poses a significant challenge

/ The systems are unrelated to eachother and have a very dysfunctional relation with the urban fabric, invading it or being ignored. Using the historic fabric as a basis for change might be advisable.


Waste-water-energy issues in Shenzhen

Documents

usedthe city

way waterwaste

method ecosystem

nuclear energy

energy plants

knowledge based economy

industrialbased economy

water system analysis9