In the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Jing-jin-ji, JJJ) Region, heavy haze pollution episodes are more serious during winter heating seasons, when pollution from low elevation, distributed residential coal combustion contributes significantly to the concentration of PM2.5. In order to reduce air pollution caused by the residential combustion of coal, the Environmental Management Program of Energy Foundation China (EFC) is supporting the Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning’s (CAEP) study on an Electricity Substitution Plan for Residential Coal in JJJ Region. This project will take into account the multiple factors that influence distributed coal usage, including local energy supply infrastructure, economic feasibility, environmental effects, impacts on and acceptance in households, economic incentive policies, and technology alternatives, and develop a substitution plan and policy recommendations.

 

During the July 26 kick-off meeting in Beijing, the project team introduced the project plan and progress. The team shared distributed coal consumption status and environmental impacts, treatment plan and measures in JJJ region, Electricity Substitution Plan by 2017 and 2020, economic and environmental analysis, and preliminary policy recommendations. Experts provided their comments and recommendations concerning the quantity of distributed coal consumption, technologies and considerations for their application, economic and supporting measures, and pilot experiences. 

 

Participants included officials and experts from the Department of Air Environmental Management, Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Office of the National Energy Agency, the Rural Construction Division of Beijing Municipality, the Energy Division of Tianjin Municipal Development and Reform Commission, the Development Department of State Grid Corporation, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Environmental Protection, School of Architecture of Tsinghua University, and EFC.