Official interpretation of the \"Implementation Opinions on Accelerating the Promotion of Ultra-Low Emissions from Coal-Fired Boilers\"

Thread Content

This post was last edited by yinkuilin6868 on 2015-12-21 08:45. I. What are ultra-low emissions from coal-fired boilers? The term \"ultra-low emissions\" referred to in the \"Implementation Opinions on Accelerating the Promotion of Ultra-Low Emissions from Coal-Fired Boilers\" (hereinafter referred to as the \"Implementation Opinions\") – also known as clean emissions or ultra-clean emissions – denotes a situation in which coal-fired boilers, in addition to meeting the current provincial emission standards for air pollutants, adopt measures such as the use of clean energy alternatives, clean coal technologies, and advanced waste gas treatment techniques. This enables their air pollutant emissions to reach the levels set for gas turbines or natural gas boilers, thereby further reducing the amount of air pollutants emitted by these boilers and improving the quality of the ambient air. II. Why implement ultra-low emission upgrades? To carry out ultra-low emission upgrades, first and foremost, the public has a strong desire for improved air quality. Although the air quality in our city is continuously improving, it still falls short of what the citizens expect as well as the relevant standards. Coal combustion remains the main factor affecting air quality, and coal-fired boilers are the primary source of such pollution; therefore, it is necessary to further reduce emissions. Secondly, ultra-low emissions represent an important measure taken by the province in the field of air pollution control. In December of this year, an executive meeting of the State Council decided that by 2020, ultra-low emission standards should be fully implemented for coal-fired power plants, with the eastern regions required to meet these standards by 2017. Shandong Province has also issued the \"Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Implementation of Ultra-Low Emission Standards for Coal-Fired Units (Boilers)\\", requiring that by the end of 2018, all units with a capacity of over 100,000 kilowatts and boilers with a steam production capacity of over 10 tons per hour in the province complete the upgrades necessary to achieve ultra-low emissions. Thirdly, ultra-low emissions represent the direction for improving coal-fired boilers, and the \"Shandong Province Regional Comprehensive Emission Standards for Air Pollutants\" set clear requirements for achieving such ultra-low emission levels. III. What are the specific implementation standards for ultra-low emissions? The emission levels of air pollutants from coal-fired units with a capacity of 100,000 kilowatts and above should meet or exceed the emission limits for gas turbines; that is, under the baseline oxygen content of the corresponding fuel, the emission concentrations of dust, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides should not exceed 5, 35, and 50 milligrams per cubic meter, respectively. The emissions of air pollutants from other coal-fired (or other fuel) boilers meet or exceed the emission concentration limits for air pollutants in the key control areas as specified in the \"Shandong Province Regional Comprehensive Emission Standards for Air Pollutants\" (DB37/2376-2013); that is, under the baseline oxygen content conditions of the respective fuels, the emission concentrations of dust, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides shall not exceed 10, 50, and 100 milligrams per cubic meter respectively. IV. Comparison between ultra-low emission standards and current boiler exhaust emission standards. Standards for ultra-low emissions from coal-fired power plants: the emission concentrations of dust, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides are 5, 35, and 50 milligrams per cubic meter respectively, representing a reduction of 75%, 83%, and 50% compared to the current standards ； Ultra-low emission standards for coal-fired boilers: the emission concentrations of dust, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides are 10, 50, and 100 milligrams per cubic meter respectively, representing a reduction of 67%, 75%, and 67% compared to the current standards. V. What technical methods can be used to achieve ultra-low emissions? First, clean energy sources or clean fuels such as natural gas, solar energy, electricity, and processed biomass are used ； Second is the use of clean coal technologies such as high-efficiency coal powder and water-coal slurry ； Third, phase out coal-fired boilers and replace them with other heat sources ； Fourth, combustion control technologies such as staged combustion, lean-burn and rich-burn combustion, and flue gas recirculation are employed ； Fifthly, efficient flue gas purification technologies for dust removal, desulfurization, and denitration are employed; by combining one or more of these techniques, ultra-low emissions of air pollutants can be achieved. VI. What is the implementation plan for ultra-low emissions for coal-fired boilers with a capacity of 10 steam tons per hour or more across the city? Plan for ultra-low emission upgrades of coal-fired power generation units with a capacity of over 11,000 kilowatts: By the end of 2015, Units 3#, 5#, and 6# at Datang Huangdao Power Generation Co., Ltd. were to carry out pilot projects for ultra-low emission upgrades of large-scale coal-fired units. By the end of 2016, over 70% of the units in the city with a capacity of over 100,000 kilowatts would have been upgraded. All renovations will be completed by the end of 2017. 2.10 Plan for retrofitting coal-fired boilers with a capacity of over 2.10 steam tons per hour: In 2015, pilot projects for ultra-low emission retrofits were carried out at companies such as Qingdao Houhai Thermal Power Co., Ltd. and Jinzhou Thermal Power Co., Ltd. By the end of 2016, the city had completed over 20% of the total number required. By the end of 2017, over 50% should have been completed in total. All renovations will be completed by the end of 2018. VII. What are the requirements regarding the emission of air pollutants from coal-fired boilers with a capacity of 10 steam tons per hour or less across the city? Except where it is truly necessary to retain them, all coal-fired boilers with a capacity of 10 steam tons per hour or less located in the urban built-up areas of the entire city and within the coverage area of the heating network must be phased out. By the end of 2019, all coal-fired boilers in the city with a capacity of 10 steam tons per hour or less must meet the \"Shandong Province Regional Comprehensive Emission Standards for Air Pollutants\" (DB37/2376-2013), or they must be phased out. VIII. What incentive policies are available for enterprises that carry out ultra-low emission upgrades? 1. In accordance with the **\"Action Plan for Energy Conservation, Emission Reduction, Upgrade and Transformation of Coal-fired Power Generation (2014–2020)\” (Fa Gai Neng Yuan [2014] No. 2093) and Shandong Province’s \"Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Implementation of Ultra-low Emission Standards for Coal-fired Units (Boilers)\” (Lu Huan Fa [2015] No. 98), Huadian Qingdao Power Generation Co., Ltd. and Datang Huangdao Power Generation Co., Ltd. have carried out upgrades to achieve ultra-low emissions. They are entitled to various support policies such as relevant electricity price subsidies at the national and provincial levels, preferential treatment in terms of electricity supply allocation, and electricity reward programs, in an effort to obtain financial assistance from the province. 2. Other coal-fired enterprises that complete ultra-low emission upgrades by the end of 2018 are eligible for financial support in the form of incentives rather than direct subsidies. Coal-fired boilers are upgraded to achieve ultra-low emissions, and subsidies are provided according to different standards based on the methods adopted such as phasing out boilers, switching to clean energy sources, and upgrading exhaust gas treatment systems, as well as the deadlines for completing these upgrades. The specific measures for the management of these grants and subsidies shall be formulated by the municipal environmental protection department in conjunction with departments such as the municipal development and reform, finance, urban and rural construction, urban management, and pricing agencies. 3. Implement a differentiated policy for charging pollution discharge fees. In accordance with relevant documents such as the \"Notice on Adjusting the Standards for Charging Pollution Discharge Fees and Other Related Issues\" issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Environmental Protection (Fa Gai Jià Ge [2014] No. 2008), as well as the \"Notice on Improving the Policy for Charging Pollution Discharge Fees to Promote Pollution Control and Emission Reduction\" issued by the Shandong Provincial Price Bureau, the Shandong Provincial Finance Department, and the Shandong Provincial Environmental Protection Department (Lu Jia Fei Fa [2015] No. 53), a differentiated policy for charging pollution discharge fees is implemented based on the concentration levels of pollutants emitted by enterprises. If the concentration of pollutants emitted by an enterprise is within ** or between 75% and 100% (inclusive) of the emission limits specified by our province, the pollution discharge fee shall be levied in accordance with the standards set by our province ； If the pollutant emission concentration is between ** and 50%–75% (inclusive) of the emission limits specified by our province, a fee of 75% of the standard rate shall be imposed ； If the pollutant emission concentration is below ** or 50% or more of the emission limits specified by our province, the fee shall be halved. 4. The increased operating costs incurred by centralized heating enterprises as a result of implementing ultra-low emission standards shall, after deducting the accumulated depreciation related to fixed assets funded by government subsidies, be determined based on actual circumstances by the municipal price authorities, and included in the scope of financial subsidies under the \"subsidy replacement with incentives\" scheme for heating services at all levels. 5. Improve market mechanisms to encourage enterprises to attract funds, technology, and management resources through methods such as contract energy management, third-party environmental pollution treatment, and emission rights trading, in order to carry out upgrades aimed at achieving ultra-low emissions. 6. Relevant districts (cities) shall **formulate incentive policies** for the environmental-friendly upgrading of small coal-fired boilers (stoves) in urban-rural fringe areas and rural regions.