Climate Change - Coping Strategies and Actions
The PRC government places consistently strong emphasis on environmental protection and continuously improves its legislation on renewable energy. A number of environmental protection policies were promulgated with a view to enable economically sustainable development. With China officially becoming a party to the Paris Climate Change Agreement in 2016 indicating a serious commitment to tackling climate change, the PRC government issued in the same year the national economic "13th Five-Year" plans for energy and power development, in which the targets for clean energy developments were specified up to 2020. In general, PRC enterprises are confronting new requirements for environmental protection and social responsibilities. The Group acknowledges that it is incumbent upon, and obligatory for, energy and power companies such as the Group to actively cope with global climate change, formulate corresponding strategies and engage in relevant actions.
Our Strategies
Aims and Directions for Development
The Group is committed to establishing itself as a clean low-carbon integrated energy company and contributing to the effective responses to global climate change. The Group's directions for development for achieving existing goals are as follows:
Enhance the development of clean energy: continue to increase the proportion of clean energy by maintaining our lead in hydropower and making further progress in the development of quality wind power and photovoltaic power projects, while controlling and slowing down the development of coal-fired power.
Achieve comprehensive purification of the existing coal-fired power: to comprehensively complete the ultra-low emission technical upgrades for coal-fired power in order to reduce the pollutants and greenhouse gases emission per unit of power generated; to enhance the efficiency of the power generating units in order to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels per unit of power generated.
Reduce investment in coal-fired power: shutdown those coal-fired power generating units with small capacity, low parameters and not feasible to carry out the ultra-low emission technical upgrades; actively seek for cooperation with other enterprises to develop the existing coal-fired power in order to reduce the proportion of shareholding in coal-fired power enterprises.
Develop technological innovation: to strive for breakthroughs in the area of clean energy and low-carbon emission technologies with greater research and development inputs.
Basis of Actions
The actions committed by the Group are based on:
Policy guidance: commitments made by the PRC government upon joining the Paris Climate Change Agreement, targets as set out in the national economic "13th Five-Year" plans for energy and power development of the PRC, "Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan", "Action Plan of the Upgrade and Renovation for Coal-fired Units to Achieve Energy Saving and Emission Reduction (2014-2020)", among other policies.
Regulatory standards: "Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China", "Air Pollution Prevention and Control Law of the People's Republic of China", "Emission Standard of Air Pollutants for Coal-fired Power Plants" and other environmental protection regulatory standards issued by the central and local governments.
Strategic Support
The Group accelerates the implementation of its transformational development strategy and strives for the developments in clean energy, integration, smart technology and international expansion. In particular, development in clean energy was ramped up in a bid to reduce reliance on traditional energies and transform from high-carbon into low-carbon generation, which is a major component in our transformational development strategy. The established strategy of the Group strongly supports various initiatives in coping with climate change.
Our Works
Air pollution
In strict compliance with the "Emission Standard of Air Pollutants for Coal-fired Power Plants", "Ambient Air Quality Standards" and other pertinent laws and regulations as well as in response to the requirements under "Action Plan of the Upgrade and Renovation for Coal-fired Units to Achieve Energy Saving and Emission Reduction (2014-2020)", the Group effectively controlled the emission of airborne pollutants by installing dedusting, desulphurization and denitration facilities and procuring coals with less pollutant contents.
During 2017, the Group carried out the denitrification and capacity increase renovation project plan. All of its power plants have taken the catalyst for increasing the SCR reserve layer, among which Fuxi Power Plant has installed SNCR devices to carry out catalyst replacement and regeneration for the initial layer. This will enhance the catalyst performance of the initial layer, thereby further reducing the emission of nitrogen oxides, increasing power output, reducing heat loss, and lowering the cost.
During 2017, as part of the ultra-low emission technical upgrade for the generating unit no. 1 of Wuhu Power Plant, the wet electrostatic dust precipitator was installed to further reduce emission of flue gas and dusts, and GGH tubes were also installed to eliminate the visual pollution from white smoke plume. In order to the eliminate outdated production capacity, Yaomeng Power Plant shut down a 310MW coal-fired power generating unit with small capacity and low parameter in order to reduce the emission of airborne pollutants.
Basic Measures Adopted to Reduce Air Pollution
| Develop Clean Energy |
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Actively develop clean energy projects, such as hydropower, wind power, photovoltaic power and natural gas power |
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Develop integrated intelligent energy projects to facilitate the developments of clean and highly efficient energy in various regions |
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| Strengthen Energy-saving Management |
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Improve fuel management by enhancing calorific value of coalsas-received and coals-as-fired for reducing fuel wastage |
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Optimise operational management by reducing oil usage for start-up of power generating units |
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Maximise the utilization rate of power generating units to prevent and minimise oil usage for low-load stable combustion |
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Enhance management of equipment depletion to minimise oil usage during malfunctioning of auxiliary machines |
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| Enhance Coal Sourcing Management |
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Enhance utilization efficiency of coal by procuring quality coal with high calorific values and low sulphur contents |
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| Promote Technology Applications of Clean Energy |
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Increase inputs in technical improvement with a stronger emphasis on desulphurization, denitration and capacity increase transformation, technical upgrades on power supply of highfrequency electrical dedusting and techniques for demolishing the exhaust bypass |
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| Commence Responsible Production |
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Properly plan the production sites by planting trees and lawn, arranging sprinkler to conduct sprinkling in the plant area regularly and as needed |
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Engage in constructing dry coal sheds and install additional sprinklers and dust gauze in the coal fields for dust control and improving the work environment on-site |
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Timely cope with changes in the environment on-site by installing air pollution monitoring instruments to monitor air quality on a real-time basis |
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| Advocate for Transparency of Environmental Information |
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Disclose emission information for pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and flue gas and dusts at production sites with reference to specified environmental standards and actively accepting public scrutiny |
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Exhausts gas
As part of our environmental protection upgrade plan, the Group embarked upon the third environmental protection technical upgrade with an aim for ultra-low emission. As of the end of 2017, all the 19 coal-fired power generating units of the Group's power plants have completed their ultra-low emission technical upgrades. All power plants except Pingwei Power Plant II have passed the environmental inspection and acceptance and received a total of approximately 4,067,000MWh of ultra-low emissions power incentives from the local provincial government.
Discharge of sulphur dioxides, nitrogen oxides, and flue gas and dusts by the Group reduced significantly as benefitted from our ultra-low emission technical upgrades, with the total discharge decreased year-on-year by 3,548 tonnes, 3,618 tonnes and 915 tonnes, respectively.
| Nature and type of discharge |
Unit |
2017 |
2016 |
(Decrease)/
increase |
Change |
| Density of nitrogen oxide discharge |
g/kWh |
0.095 |
0.185 |
(0.090) |
-48.65% |
| Total discharge of nitrogen oxide |
'000 tonnes |
4.540 |
8.158 |
(3.618) |
-44.35% |
| Density of flue gas and dusts discharge |
g/kWh |
0.013 |
0.035 |
(0.022) |
-62.86% |
| Total discharge of flue gas and dusts |
'000 tonnes |
0.623 |
1.538 |
(0.915) |
-59.49% |
| Density of sulphur dioxide discharge |
g/kWh |
0.063 |
0.150 |
(0.087) |
-58.00% |
| Total discharge of sulphur dioxide |
'000 tonnes |
3.035 |
6.583 |
(3.548) |
-53.90% |
| Density of carbon dioxide discharge |
g/kWh |
800 |
802 |
(2) |
-0.25% |
| Total discharge of carbon dioxide |
'000 tonnes |
36,399 |
35,783 |
616 |
1.72% |
Although carbon dioxide emissions have risen due to the increase in power generation, the Group has reduced the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide by developing clean energy projects, effectively curbing such increases. In 2017, the Group's clean energy power generation amounted to 18,662,142MWh, representing a reduction in carbon dioxide discharge by 14,929,714 tonnes.
Wastes
The Group strictly complies with the "Standard for Pollution Control on the Storage and Disposal Site for General Industrial Solid Wastes (一般工業固體廢物貯存、處置場污染控制標準)" and reduces its waste discharge by establishing a comprehensive residue and ash disposal system and upgrading the relevant equipment to enhance leakage prevention treatment. In order to recycle and reuse the wastes, the Group set out administrative measures and annual targets for the comprehensive utilization of waste coal ashes to fully explore and realize the potential application of waste coal ashes. In 2017, the comprehensive utilization ratio of waste coal ashes in the power plants of the Group amounted to 81.46%, a decrease of 1.5 percentage points from that of 2016. The decrease in comprehensive utilization ratio was mainly attributable to the sharp fall of the sales volume of waste coal ashes as a result of strengthened enforcement efforts of environmental protection departments in certain provinces and cities. The discharge of non-hazardous wastes increased as a result of disposing the excessive waste coal ashes.
| Nature and type of discharge |
Unit |
2017 |
2016 |
(Decrease)/
increase |
Change |
| Density of hazardous wastes discharge |
g/kWh |
0 |
0 |
- |
- |
| Total discharge of hazardous wastes |
'000 tonnes |
0 |
0 |
- |
- |
| Density of non-hazardous wastes discharge |
g/kWh |
28.8 |
24.8 |
4 |
16.13% |
| Total discharge of non-hazardous wastes |
'000 tonnes |
1,381 |
1,108 |
273 |
24.64% |
Wastewater
Each of the power plants of the Group discharged wastewater in strict compliance with national standards, including "Integrated Wastewater Discharge Standard (污水綜合排放標準)" and "Wastewater Quality Control Index for Limestone - Gypsum Wet Flue Gas Desulfurization of Coalfired Power Plants (火電廠石灰石 - 石膏濕法煙氣脫硫廢水水質控制指標)", and actively implemented the "Action Plan on Prevention and Control of Water Pollution (水污染防治行動計劃)". In 2017, the Group thoroughly investigated the utilization of water resources, in-depth desulphurization treatment of wastewater (zero-discharge of wastewater) and water recycling treatment of each of its power plants, adopted corresponding technical policy for each individual power plant and strengthened the management of wastewater treatment, ensuring that the discharge is up to standard and maximizing the recycling and reuse of wastewater. In 2017, all power plants except Yaomeng Power Plant of the Group have realized zero-discharge of wastewater and wastewater discharge reduced significantly by 1,101,000 tonnes.
| Nature and type of discharge |
Unit |
2017 |
2016 |
(Decrease)/
increase |
Change |
| Total discharge of industrial wastewater |
'000 tonnes |
742.2 |
1,843.2 |
(1,101) |
-59.73% |
Utilization of resources
Coal resources
The Group is engaged in in-depth optimization of its power mix and gradually closes down those coal-fired power generating units in the capacity of 300MW or below which have high coal consumption rate. During the year, the Group successfully closed down a power generating unit in the capacity of 310MW of Yaomeng Power Plant. Comprehensive environmental protection and energy-saving upgrades and transformation are conducted in a planned manner on existing regular coal-fired power generating units, increasing the comprehensive utilization rate of coal resources. Meanwhile, the Group continues to enhance its management of coal sourcing by procuring quality coal with high calorific values and low sulphur contents. Development of clean energy is greatly promoted to increase the proportion of power generation of clean energy.
In 2017, the Group completed ultra-low emission technical upgrades for six coal-fired power generating units. As of the end of 2017, the Group has completed ultra-low emission technical upgrade for all 19 coal-fired power generating units and continued to lower its exhausts gas discharge and net coal consumption. The Group's net coal consumption rate in 2017 amounted to 304.23 g/kWh, a decrease of 0.70 g/kWh from last year, equivalent to a saving of approximately 32,383 tonnes of standard coal.
Water resources
In active response to the government's requirement of conserving energy and reducing consumption, the Group strictly complies with the "Quality Standard for Recycling and Reuse of Urban Wastewater for Industrial Use (城市污水再生利用工業用水水質)" and conducts in-depth study on water-saving techniques to comprehensively enhance the utilization rate of water resources. In the process of coal-fired power generation, water supply is derived from the recycled water discharged from power plant constructions by virtue of an improvement on the water supply system design plan, extracting no water from natural sources. The overall water consumption ratio for power generation was lowered as water resources were recycled for repeated use through optimization and modulation in the process of hydropower generation. In 2017, water consumption slightly decreased by 140,000 tonnes.
| |
2017 |
2016 |
(Decrease)/
increase |
Change |
| Total water consumption (million tonnes) |
64.22 |
64.36 |
(0.14) |
-0.22% |
| Water consumption per unit (g/kWh) |
1,337 |
1,443 |
(106) |
-7.35% |
The patent "rack-cleaning harrows for trash-screening racks" invented by Wu Qiang Xi Power Plant effectively improves efficiency of water use by using specially designed rack-cleaning harrows to wash residues off the racks over the water inlet of the power generating unit.
Other resources
The Group consistently adheres to the low-carbon environmental protection principle. It has strengthened its management over consumption of water, electricity, paper and fuel in office, and launched energy-saving measures such as water conservation and upgrade of lighting system. Moreover, it has reduced the number of meetings held and adopted video conferencing as a normal practice, enhanced the staff's awareness of green office as well as their working efficiency. Despite the increase in number of subsidiaries due to the Group's continuous efforts to expand its business during the year, the Group has achieved great success in terms of its green office effectiveness with its entire staff strictly implemented the green office measures.
Green office effectiveness for the Group
| |
2017 |
2016 |
(Decrease)/
increase |
Change |
| Total power consumption (kWh) |
8,973,920 |
9,085,294 |
(111,374) |
-1.23% |
| Total paper used (tonnes) |
27.84 |
32.00 |
(4.16) |
-13.00% |
| Total fuel consumption of corporate vehicles (litre) |
655,790 |
702,041 |
(46,251) |
-6.59% |
| Video conferencing (times) |
575 |
695 |
(120) |
-17.27% |
Green Office Measures
| Green Trips |
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Enhance management and increase utilization rate of corporate vehicles |
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Conduct monthly surveys and analyses to track fuel consumption of vehicles, and arrange necessary repairs and maintenance to reduce emission |
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Encourage employees to commute by corporate shuttle bus |
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Using video and telephone conferencing to replace certain business trips |
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| Enhance Power Management |
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Clean and make energy-saving upgrades on boiler units and central air-conditioner system in the office by means of technical upgrade projects |
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Adjust the central air-conditioning and the street lights on and off time on real-time basis according to the temperature and sunshine duration |
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Adjust the number of elevators in power and in use according to the commute traffic of employees |
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Implement energy-saving plan from 6:00 p.m. and turn off unnecessary power supply after security checks at night |
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| "Paperless" Office |
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Use synchronized OA office system and cell-phone based patrol system to realize a paperless low-carbon office |
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Adopt double-sided printing to enhance paper utilization rate |
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Realize paperless meetings by holding certain conference electronically and reading meeting documents via digital tablets |
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Environment and natural resources
Development of clean energy
The Group's attributable installed capacity for clean energy in 2017 amounted to 4,695.9MW, accounting for 27.54% of the Group's total attributable installed capacity. The Group's power generation of clean energy such as hydropower, wind power and photovoltaic power in 2017 amounted to 18,662,142MWh, accounting for 27.99% of the Group's total power generation.
Substantial breakthrough was achieved in the Group's integrated energy projects development. The Hefei Airport Project was listed as the first national exemplary construction project for multifunctionality, complementarity and optimization. In addition, the Group has entered into cooperation agreements with a number of municipal governments and industrial parks, including the Comprehensive Intelligent Energy Project of Beike Industrial Park (北科產業園區綜合智慧能源項目) and Comprehensive Intelligent Energy Project of Bazhou City (霸州市綜合智慧能源項目). Development of clean energy projects are in progress as the new "Photovoltaic plus" comprehensive utilization business model was invented and projects such as "agriculturephotovoltaic complementary project" of Shangdong Xintai and "fishing-photovoltaic complementary project" of Anhui Xiejiaji have commenced operation successively during the year. The Group weighs equally on both onshore and offshore wind power generation. On one hand, onshore wind power generation projects are being promoted, for instance, the wind power projects for Toksun Power Plant II in Xinjiang and Shangjiangxei Power Plant in Jiangyong, Hunan already obtained government approval. On the other hand, offshore wind power resources in places such as Shandong are being explored actively.
Building clean coal-fired power
The Group continued to increase its investments in environmental protection by taking proactive effort on ultra-low emission technical upgrades and installing denitration and desulphurization facilities for its coal-fired power generating units. The Group's total investments in environmental protection in 2017 amounted to approximately RMB685,580,000.
The Group practically enhanced the maintenance and operation management of its environmental protection facilities to ensure that discharge of pollutants complies with the required standards. In 2017, the operational ratio of desulphurization facilities for the Group's coal-fired power generating units was 100% (2016: 100%) at the desulphurization efficiency ratio of 98.42% (2016: 96.67%). Operational ratio of our denitration facilities reached 100% (2016: 99.92%) at the denitration efficiency ratio of 92.98% (2016: 84.14%). Control of discharge of airborne pollutants has been effectively improved.
Commencement of Green Construction
The Group adheres to the "Three Simultaneous" environmental protection principle for engineering projects, pursuant to which it has commenced environmental assessment in all the three stages of engineering design, construction as well as inspection checks with a view to realizing green construction by improving the construction sites and timely implementing pollution preventive measures. In addition, the Group has strengthened the work in relation to conservation of ecological environment and biodiversity in places where its power plants are located. It has also strengthened trainings on environmental protection, launched environmental charitable activities and enhanced the awareness of its staff and the public towards conservation of ecological environment. In 2017, there was no environmental emergency and environmental-related issue that required reporting at the construction sites.
