Recently, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National Energy Administration (NEA) issued the Opinions on Improving Institutional Mechanisms and Policy Measures for Green and Low-Carbon Energy Transition (hereinafter referred to as the “Opinions“). It is proposed in the Opinions to basically establish a complete basic mechanism and policy system for green and low-carbon energy development by 2030.

The Opinions adheres to the principle of taking into account the national conditions, setting up new models before breaking old ones, and promoting green and low-carbon energy transition in an orderly manner on the premise of ensuring energy security. The Opinions specifies that the construction of large wind power and PV power generation bases should be accelerated with a focus on the desert, gobi and wild areas to upgrade existing coal-fired power units in the areas. It is proposed in the Opinions to rely on major energy projects such as large new energy bases to promote the collaborative research, development, manufacturing, and application of advanced technical equipment by upstream and downstream enterprises. In the Opinions, it is stated that the efficiency of energy system operation and resource allocation will be improved by accelerating the construction of the electric power market, actively promoting the market-oriented trading of distributed power generation, guiding the green and low-carbon transition of the consumer side in a market-oriented manner, and furthering the reform of “delegating power, strengthening regulation, and improving service” in the energy sector.

The Opinions links with the carbon peaking implementation plans for key industries and sectors: In terms of the industry sector, it is encouraged to supply the power from renewable energy power projects to nearby industrial parks or enterprises through innovative power transmission and operation modes. In terms of the building sector, large-scale development will be promoted for buildings with ultra-low energy consumption and low-carbon buildings. In terms of the transportation sector, it is planned to actively promote large-capacity electrified public transportation and clean energy vehicles with electric power, hydrogen, advanced bio-liquid fuels, natural gas, and other clean energy and continuously add stations and service facilities for charging, battery exchanging, hydrogenation, and gas filling (LNG).

The 2021 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) was held during September 2-7 at China National Convention Center and Shougang Park, with the theme of “Towards Digital Future and Service Driven Development”. “Carbon peaking” and “carbon neutrality” were important keywords at the CIFTIS.

On the telecommunication, computer and information service theme exhibition during the CIFTIS, the “carbon neutrality” green technology and service section of CIFTIS intensively displayed the mainstream cutting-edge technologies such as energy conservation and carbon reduction, clean energy application, and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), becoming an important exhibition, exchange and cooperation platform for deepening the objectives of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality to various industries.

Thermal power plants are currently major carbon emitters in China. Therefore, offshore wind power and PV power generation have become crucial solutions for carbon reduction. In the exhibition area of China National Coal Group, a map clearly showed the pace of its transformation to new energy. Currently, China National Coal Group has deployed wind power, PV, hydrogen energy, geothermal and other clean energy industries in Gansu, Qinghai, Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang and other places.

Set up a working platform on the vast sea to hoist the offshore wind turbines… In the exhibition area of China Huadian Corporation, the display model of offshore wind power was placed at a prominent position.

At the opening ceremony of the Global Green Economy Prosperity & Carbon Neutrality Forum 2021 held during the CIFTIS, Liu Yanhua, director of the National Expert Committee on Climate Change and former vice minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology, frankly said that in terms of achieving the “carbon peaking” and “carbon neutrality” goals, China is facing seven difficulties, namely, great emissions, numerous highly-energy-consuming industries requiring transformation, less time to achieve the goals, coal-dominated energy structure, social system improvement, consumption structure improvement, and consumption habit improvement. He said that to overcome these difficulties, we should not only have new development ideas, but also carry out industrial structure adjustment and achieve major breakthroughs in carbon reduction in power, construction, transportation, manufacturing and other fields. Relevant policies should be issued as soon as possible to form a market mechanism.

(Cover Photo Credit: CFP.CN)

Source：CIFTIS