Abstract

In the fourth compliance period (2026–2030) of the Korea Emissions Trading Scheme (K-ETS), greenhouse gas reduction targets have been strengthened and the proportion of auctioned allowances has increased compared to the previous period. As a result, a significant rise in allowance prices is widely anticipated, increasing the reduction burden on industrial combustion facilities, including waste incineration plants. This study aims to identify technically feasible and economically practical greenhouse gas reduction technologies applicable to waste incineration facilities and to determine optimal solutions considering capital investment requirements. The study analyzes the institutional framework of K-ETS, emission characteristics of waste incineration processes, waste composition effects, and energy recovery structures. Major mitigation options evaluated include low-pressure steam turbine power generation, carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS), flue gas recirculation (FGR), and industrial heat pump technologies. The results indicate that emission intensity is strongly influenced by fossil-based waste fractions such as plastics, and that efficiency improvement and energy recovery technologies provide more practical short-term mitigation pathways than large-scale capture systems under current economic conditions. The findings suggest that technology selection for incineration facilities should consider regulatory structure, energy cost, and facility configuration rather than relying solely on theoretical reduction potential.