A comprehensive assessment of ecological sensitivity for a coal-fired power plant in Xilingol, Inner Mongolia

ABSTRACT

The planning and construction of large-scale coal-fired power plants are important components of China’s future energy development strategy in response to global environmental problems, as proposed in China’s Twelfth Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development. With the rapid socio-economic development, research and assessments of ecological risks of large-scale human activities have drawn increasing attention. As large-scale coal-fired power plant are more concentrated in the northern arid and semi-arid areas of China, where the environment is fragile, objective assessments of the ecological risks at large-scale coal power bases are important for ensuring the sustainable development of coal bases and guaranteeing the normal and orderly life of surrounding residents. Ecological sensitivity evaluations reflect the degree of changes in the natural environment due to human disturbance, and explain the possibility of ecological assessments in the region. Based on comprehensive evaluation of ecological sensitivity, combined with geographic information and soil-vegetation data, we analysed soil erosion, desertification sensitivity, and soil salinization. Using the results of single-factor ecological sensitivity evaluation, we then conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the ecological sensitivity of coal-fired power plants. Using Xilingol coal-fired power plant in a case study, we performed single-factor ecological sensitivity evaluation of soil erosion, desertification, and soil salinization. We then assessed the comprehensive ecological sensitivity and the spatial distribution of single-factor and multi-factor ecological sensitivity in this region.

KEYWORDS:

• Coal-fired power plant
• ecological sensitivity
• soil erosion
• desertification
• soil salinization

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the State Key Research Development Program of China (No. 2016YFC0503603).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the State Key Research Development Program of China (2016YFC0503603).