Accelerate the green, low-carbon and high-quality development of boilers to help achieve the goal of peaking carbon neutrality -- Interpretation of the Action Plan for Green, low-carbon and High-quality Development of Boilers

Recently, the National Development and Reform Commission, the General Administration of Market Regulation and other five departments jointly issued the "Boiler Green low-carbon high-quality development Action Plan" (development and reform environmental capital (2023) No. 1638, hereinafter referred to as the "action Plan"), deployment of related work, clear the overall requirements, main goals and key tasks. Making whole-chain system arrangements for boiler production, manufacturing, construction, operation, recycling and other links, jointly promoting boiler energy saving, carbon reduction, pollution reduction transformation and recycling, and continuously improving the level of green, low-carbon and high-quality development of boilers, is of great significance for actively and steadily promoting carbon peak carbon neutrality.

First, promoting the green, low-carbon and high-quality development of boilers is a strong support for achieving the goal of "double carbon"

Boilers are widely used in power, heating, petrochemical, chemical, steel, non-ferrous metals, paper making, food, pharmaceutical and other industries and in daily life, and are important basic equipment to ensure national economic development and people's lives. In recent years, China has implemented a series of policy measures such as the optimization and transformation and upgrading of coal power structure, the comprehensive improvement of energy conservation and environmental protection of coal-fired industrial boilers, and the level of boiler design and manufacturing has been continuously improved, the fuel structure has been greatly improved, and the level of energy conservation and environmental protection has been significantly improved. However, it is also necessary to see that the boiler is still the largest energy consumption and the most carbon emission equipment in China. At present, there are about 320,000 boilers in China, with an annual energy consumption of about 2 billion tons of standard coal, and carbon emissions account for about 40% of the country's total carbon emissions. Promoting the green, low-carbon and high-quality development of boilers, further improving the energy efficiency level of boiler systems, and reducing carbon dioxide and atmospheric pollutant emissions are inevitable requirements for promoting carbon to reach peak carbon neutrality.

Promoting the green, low-carbon and high-quality development of boilers is an important measure to support the construction of a new energy system

China's coal-based resource endowment determines that coal power will remain an important support for China's power supply security for a long time in the future. With the rapid increase in the proportion of renewable energy, coal power, as the "ballast stone" of power security, has gradually transformed to both basic support and system regulatory power. Boiler is the core equipment of thermal power unit. The implementation of energy saving and carbon reduction transformation and flexibility transformation of power plant boilers can help to clean, efficient and flexible transformation of thermal power units, and improve the flexible adjustment and security of power system. The State Council's Action Plan for Carbon Peaking before 2030 clearly points out that, focusing on industrial boilers and other equipment, we will comprehensively improve energy efficiency standards, promote advanced and efficient products and equipment, accelerate the elimination of backward and inefficient equipment, and promote energy conservation and efficiency of key energy-using equipment. Industrial boilers provide heat energy for production and life, and play an important role in economic and social development, but their operation energy efficiency and design energy efficiency are greatly different, it is necessary to improve the efficiency of industrial boiler system, and further tap the potential of energy saving and carbon reduction. Implementing green, low-carbon and high-quality development actions for boilers, working from both ends of supply and demand, and promoting green and low-carbon energy transformation is an important measure to support the construction of a new energy system.

Third, the "action Plan" has clear goals and tasks, and is an action guide to promote the green and low-carbon development of boilers

Promoting the green, low-carbon and high-quality development of boilers is a complex systematic project that needs overall planning, scientific deployment and orderly promotion. "Action Plan" based on China's energy endowment and boiler development status, in accordance with the principle of combining quantitative and qualitative, from energy efficiency improvement, pollution prevention and control, renovation, recycling and other aspects of the 2025 and 2030 two stages of work targets. Taking energy efficiency improvement as an example, the "Action Plan" clearly states that by 2025, the average operating thermal efficiency of industrial boilers and power station boilers will be increased by 5 percentage points and 0.5 percentage points respectively compared with 2021. By 2030, the thermal efficiency of industrial boiler products will be increased by 3 percentage points compared with 2021, and the average operational thermal efficiency will be further improved. It is estimated that the average operating thermal efficiency of industrial boilers and power station boilers is increased by 5 percentage points and 0.5 percentage points, which can achieve annual energy saving of about 30 million tons of standard coal and annual carbon dioxide emission reduction of about 80 million tons, and energy saving and carbon reduction benefits are significant.

At the front end, by adjusting the energy structure and promoting the substitution of clean and low-carbon energy, the atmospheric pollutants and carbon emission intensity of boilers can be greatly reduced; It is the most direct and economical way to save energy and reduce carbon pollution by improving boiler energy utilization efficiency and strengthening collaborative treatment of pollutants during operation. Strengthening the recycling of waste boilers at the end, improving the level of resource utilization, can realize energy saving, material saving and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The "action Plan" adheres to the problem orientation and goal orientation, starting from all aspects of the boiler production and manufacturing, construction and operation, recycling and other life cycle, puts forward the requirements for the systematic work of energy conservation, carbon reduction and pollution reduction, arranges and arranges 12 key tasks in four aspects, and actively promotes and guides the green, low-carbon and high-quality development of boilers.

Fourth, steadily promote the implementation of the Action Plan to ensure that green, low-carbon and high-quality development results

The "Action Plan" proposes to adhere to the working principles of "safety first, overall coordination, green low-carbon, smooth circulation, innovation-driven, intelligent and efficient, government guidance and market leadership", strengthen the whole chain management of boiler production, manufacturing, construction and operation, recycling and utilization, and vigorously promote the transformation of boiler energy saving, carbon reduction and pollution reduction. Promoting the transformation and upgrading of boiler equipment to the direction of "diversification of energy varieties, large-scale coal-fired boilers, condensation of gas boilers, electrification of small boilers, and high parameterization of power station boilers" has strong pertinency and operability. All relevant parties should, in accordance with the requirements of the Action Plan, focus on key links and key tasks, refine work measures, strengthen overall planning and coordination, strengthen the implementation of responsibilities, carry out publicity and guidance, accelerate the research and development of key and core technologies for green and low-carbon boilers and the promotion and application of advanced and applicable technologies, improve the digitization and intelligent level of boilers, and constantly improve the standard system and incentive and constraint mechanism. We will actively yet prudently promote the upgrading and upgrading of boilers, standardize the recycling and utilization of used boilers, strengthen the application of new materials, new technologies and new processes for boiler production, and prevent and control safety risks of upgrading and upgrading, coordinate the safe and economic operation of boilers, and promote green, low-carbon and high-quality development, and actively contribute to the goal of achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality.