Climate Change - Coping Strategies and Actions
The PRC government always places strong emphasis on environmental protection. Legislations were enacted to facilitate the development of renewable energy and a number of environmental protection policies were promulgated successively with a view to realizing sustainable development of both the economy and the environment. 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†plan for energy and power development, in which the targets for clean energy development up to 2020 were specified. In order to keep abreast of the trends and requirements on combating climate change overseas, the PRC government has imposed higher requirements on works in relation to combating climate changes at the National Conference on Ecological Environmental Protection held in 2018. In general, PRC enterprises were confronted with increasing number of new and more stringent requirements on environmental protection when fulfilling their 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 take 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 to achieve its existing goals are as follows:
Focus on 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 in a timely manner.
Achieve comprehensive purification of the existing coal-fired power: to complete the ultra-low emission technical upgrades for all coal-fired power generating units 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.
Promote technological innovation: to strive for breakthroughs in the area of clean energy and low-carbon emission technologies with greater investment in technological research and development.
Explore other types of energy: actively explore new energy segments, and seek to participate in the hydrogen power application demonstration projects of Expo 2019 and Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games by promoting the development of hydrogen energy projects.
Basis of Actions
The actions carried out 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" plan for energy and power development of the PRC, "Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan (《大氣污染防治行動計劃》)", "Action Plan of the Upgrade and Renovation for Coal-fired Units to Achieve Energy Saving and Emission Reduction (2014–2020) (《煤電節能減排升級與改造行動計劃(2014–2020年)》)", among other policies.
Regulatory standards: "Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China (《中華人民共和國環境保護法》)", "Air Pollution Prevention and Control Law of the People's Republic of China (《中華人民共和國大氣污染防治法》)", "Emission Standard of Air Pollutants for Coal-fired Power Plants (《火電廠大氣污染物排放標準》)" and other regulatory standards on environmental protection issued by the central and local governments.
Working guidelines: "Action Plan for Enhancing the Protection of Ecological Environment (《生態環境保護提升行動方案》)" and working guidelines regarding the protection of ecological environment issued by other business units.
Strategic Support
The Group accelerates the implementation of its transformational development strategy and strives for development in clean energy, integration, smart technology and international expansion. In particular, development in modern clean energy was ramped up in a bid to reduce reliance on traditional energies as soon as possible and gradually transform from high-carbon into low-carbon generation, which is a major component in the Group's transformational development strategy. The established strategy of the Group strongly supports various initiatives in coping with climate change.
Our Works
In strict compliance with the "Emission Standard of Air Pollutants for Coal-fired Power Plants (《火電廠大氣污染物排放標準》)" 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) (《煤電節能減排升級與改造行動計劃(2014–2020年)》)", the Group effectively controlled the emission of airborne pollutants by installing dedusting, desulphurization and denitration facilities and procuring coals with less pollutant contents.
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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Strengthen fuel management by enhancing calorific value of coals-as-received and coals-as-fired to reduce fuel wastage |
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Optimize operational management by reducing oil usage for start-up of power generating units |
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Maximize the load rate of power generating units to prevent and minimize oil usage for low-load stable combustion |
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Enhance management of equipment depletion to minimize oil usage during malfunctioning of auxiliary machinery |
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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 Application of Clean Energy Technology |
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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 high-frequency 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 the construction of dry coal sheds and install additional sprinklers and dust gauze in the coal fields for dust control with a view to 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 in an effort to actively accept public scrutiny |
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Emissions
The Group formulates strategies for tackling air pollution issues with well-known environmental protection companies. With the goal of getting all our coal-fired generating units to achieve the ultra-low emission standards, the technical upgrade plan has been carried out consistently.
In 2018, a specialized group for dust control technology was established for the generating unit no. 1 of Fuxi Power Plant for the ultra-low emission technical upgrade. Subsequently, its dust emissions have been successfully maintained at a level of below 5 mg per standard cubic meter, allowing it to successfully pass the inspection and acceptance of ultra-low emission technical upgrade. Moreover, in 2018, windbreak and dust gauze were installed in the coalfields of Pingwei Power Plant, combined with sprinkling device, its dust control rate reached over 95%.
As of the end of 2018, more than 95% operating coal-fired power generating units of the Group met the standards of ultra-low emission, among which six power plants have received a total of approximately 1,154,000MWh incentive electricity for environmental protection from the local governments.
Emission of sulphur dioxides and flue gas and dusts by the Group further decreased as benefitted from the impressive results of the ultra-low emission technical upgrades for certain power plants, with the total emission decreased year-on-year by 83 tonnes and 197 tonnes, respectively.
| Nature and type of discharge |
Unit |
2018 |
2017 |
(Decrease)/
increase |
Change |
| Density of nitrogen oxide discharge |
g/kWh |
0.097 |
0.095 |
0.002 |
2.11% |
| Density of sulphur dioxide discharge |
g/kWh |
0.056 |
0.063 |
(0.007) |
–11.11% |
| Density of carbon dioxide discharge |
g/kWh |
795 |
800 |
(5) |
–0.63% |
| Density of flue gas and dusts emission |
g/kWh |
0.008 |
0.013 |
(0.005) |
–38.46% |
| Total discharge of nitrogen oxide |
'000 tonnes |
5.097 |
4.540 |
0.557 |
12.27% |
| Total discharge of sulphur dioxide |
'000 tonnes |
2.952 |
3.035 |
(0.083) |
-2.73% |
| Total discharge of carbon dioxide |
'000 tonnes |
40,802 |
36,399 |
4,403 |
12.10% |
| Total discharge of flue gas and dusts |
'000 tonnes |
0.426 |
0.623 |
(0.197) |
-31.62% |
Although carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions have risen due to the increase in coal-fired power generation during the year under review, the Group has substantially reduced the emission of greenhouse gases by developing clean energy projects, effectively curbing such increases. In 2018, the Group's clean energy power generation amounted to 20,159,816MWh, representing a reduction in carbon dioxide emission by 16,027,054 tonnes.
Solid 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 sets out administrative measures and annual targets for the comprehensive utilization of waste coal ashes to fully realize and explore the potential application of waste coal ashes. In 2018, the comprehensive utilization ratio of waste coal ashes in each of the power plants of the Group amounted to 86.94%, an increase of 5.48 percentage points from that of 2017.
| Nature and type of discharge |
Unit |
2018 |
2017 |
(Decrease)/
increase |
Change |
| Density of hazardous wastes discharge |
g/kWh |
0 |
0 |
- |
- |
| Density of non-hazardous wastes discharge |
g/kWh |
25.8 |
28.8 |
(3.0) |
–10.42% |
| Total discharge of hazardous wastes |
'000 tonnes |
0 |
0 |
- |
- |
| Total discharge of non-hazardous wastes |
'000 tonnes |
1,323 |
1,381 |
(58) |
-4.20% |
Wastewater
Each of the power plants of the Group discharges 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 Coal-fired 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 implements the "Action Plan on Prevention and Control of Water Pollution (《水污染防治行動計劃》)". The Group thoroughly investigates 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, adopts corresponding technical policy for each individual power plant and strengthens the management of wastewater treatment, ensuring that the wastewater discharge is up to standard and maximizing the recycling and reuse of wastewater.
In 2018, the Group reduced the pollutant contents in the wastewater of Yaomeng Power Plant by way of technical upgrade to ensure that the wastewater discharge complies with national standards. As of the end of 2018, all power plants except Yaomeng Power Plant of the Group have realized zero-discharge of wastewater and wastewater discharge reduced significantly by 402,300 tonnes.
| Nature and type of discharge |
Unit |
2018 |
2017 |
(Decrease)/
increase |
Change |
| Discharge of industrial wastewater |
'000 tonnes |
339.9 |
742.2 |
(402.3) |
-54.20% |
Utilization of resources
Coal resources
The Group continues to engage 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. 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 by using clean energy.
As of the end of 2018, over 95% of the Group's operating coal-fired power generating units have met the standards of ultra-low emission and continued to lower their exhaust gas emission and net coal consumption. The Group's net coal consumption rate in 2018 amounted to 302.41 g/kWh, representing a decrease of 1.82 g/kWh from last year, equivalent to a saving of approximately 93,389 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 design plan of water supply system, 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 deployment in the process of hydropower generation.
In 2018, water consumption of the Group increased by 8,270,000 tonnes. The increase was mainly attributable to the consolidation of newly acquired companies during the year, which resulted in a substantial increase in the number of subsidiary companies and clean energy power plants, in addition to the increase in coal-fired power generation.
| |
2018 |
2017 |
(Decrease)/
increase |
Change |
| Total water consumption (million tonnes) |
72.49 |
64.22 |
8.27 |
12.88% |
| Water consumption per unit (g/kWh) |
1,352 |
1,337 |
15 |
1.12% |
Other resources
The Group incorporates the principle of low-carbon environmental protection into its daily operation and creates an energy-saving environment in a view to enhancing the staff's awareness of green office as well as their working efficiency. Despite the substantial increase in the number of subsidiary companies due to the Group's continuous efforts to expand its business during the year (in particular the consolidation of newly acquired companies), the Group achieved satisfactory results in terms of its green office effectiveness with its entire staff strictly implemented the green office measures.
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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Use 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-conditioning system in the office by means of technical upgrade projects |
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Adjust the central air-conditioning system 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 every 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 most conferences electronically and reading meeting documents via digital tablets |
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Green office effectiveness for the Group
| |
2018 |
2017 |
(Decrease)/
increase |
Change |
| Total power consumption (kWh) |
12,790,188 |
8,973,920 |
3,816,268 |
42.53% |
| Total water consumption (tonnes) |
144,944 |
95,112 |
49,832 |
52.39% |
| Total paper used (tonnes) |
38.46 |
27.84 |
10.62 |
38.15% |
| Total fuel consumption of corporate vehicles (litre) |
776,855 |
655,790 |
121,065 |
18.46% |
| Video conferencing (times) |
1,109 |
575 |
534 |
92.87% |
Environment and natural resources
Investment in clean energy
The Group's attributable installed capacity for clean energy in 2018 amounted to 6,487.9MW, accounting for 32.88% 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 2018 amounted to 20,159,816MWh, accounting for 27.21% of the Group's total power generation.
In 2018, through acquisitions of clean energy projects, a total of 1,824.5MW of new attributable installed capacity of clean energy was incorporated into the Group, which has not only increased the scale of its clean energy assets, but also helped reducing air pollution in the course of its business expansion.
The Group continued to achieve substantial breakthrough in the development of integrated energy projects. Among which, the Comprehensive Intelligent Energy Project of Beike Industrial Park (北科產業園區綜合智慧能源項目) commenced operation during the year, while Phase II of the Energy Demonstration Project of Beike Industrial Park (北科產業園區能源示範項目二期) also commenced construction. The development of clean energy projects continued to make progress with the Group successfully won the tender for Datong Phase II 4x100MW "Top-Runner" photovoltaic power project and continued to maintain a leading position in terms of "Top-Runner" photovoltaic power projects. 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 Dashetou Power Plant in Shanxi, Phases I and II of Dahuaishan Power Plant in Guangxi already obtained government approval. On the other hand, offshore wind power resources in places such as Shandong and Guangdong are being explored actively.
Building clean coal-fired power
The Group continues to increase its investment in environmental protection by taking proactive efforts to implement the ultra-low emission technical upgrades and install denitration and desulphurization facilities for its coal-fired power generating units. The Group's total capital investment in environmental protection in 2018 amounted to approximately RMB109,690,000.
The Group practically enhances the maintenance and operation management of its environmental protection facilities to ensure that discharge of pollutants complies with the required standards. In 2018, the operational ratio of desulphurization facilities for the Group's coal-fired power generating units was 100% (2017: 100%) at the desulphurization efficiency ratio of 99.20% (2017: 98.42%). Operational ratio of our denitration facilities reached 100% (2017: 100%) at the denitration efficiency ratio of 91.02% (2017: 92.98%). Control of emission of airborne pollutants has been improved effectively.
Introduction of green construction
The Group adheres to the "Three Simultaneous" environmental protection principle for engineering projects, pursuant to which it has carried out environmental assessment in all the three stages of engineering design, construction as well as acceptance inspection with a view to realizing green construction by improving the construction sites and implementing pollution preventive measures in a timely manner.
In 2018, the Group implemented a number of green construction measures, including the three principles of energy conservation, land conservation and material conservation, and optimizing its engineering design with the use of new skills and new technologies, thereby realizing the conservation of materials and land, reducing the discharge of "three wastes" and lowering the cost of construction works. In addition, the Group has strengthened the work in relation to the conservation of ecological environment and biodiversity in places where its power plants are located. It 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 2018, there was no environmental emergency and environmental-related issue that required reporting at the construction sites.
