Recently, the National Development and Reform Commission and other departments issued a notice on the release of the "Energy Efficiency Benchmark and Benchmark Levels in Key Industrial Fields (2023 Edition)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Energy Efficiency Level 2023 Edition"), providing energy efficiency benchmark and benchmark levels for 36 fields such as refining, ethylene, and rubber, This is an expansion and improvement of the "Energy Efficiency Benchmarking and Benchmarking Levels in Key Fields of High Energy Consumption Industries (2021 Edition)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Energy Efficiency Levels 2021 Edition"), a specific manifestation of the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on coordinating industrial structure adjustment, promoting green development of manufacturing industry, and promoting clean and low-carbon transformation in the industrial field. It is also an internal requirement for implementing the spirit of the Central Economic Work Conference and the first meeting of the 20th Central Financial Commission, It is of great significance to accelerate the promotion of energy-saving and carbon reduction transformation and upgrading in key industrial areas, and to achieve high-quality development.
1、 Compared with the 2021 edition, the 2023 edition of "Energy Efficiency Benchmark and Benchmark Levels in Key Industrial Fields" has undergone significant changes in multiple aspects.
One is to closely integrate with reality and further expand the field of energy efficiency constraints. On the basis of the 25 key areas involved in the 2021 version, the 2023 version of the energy efficiency level indicators, combined with the energy consumption, scale, technological status, and transformation potential of industrial key areas, have added 11 new areas, further expanding the scope of energy conservation and carbon reduction upgrading in industrial key areas. If 19 key areas in the petrochemical and chemical industry are involved, the total energy consumption of the covered areas accounts for over 80% of the total energy consumption of the entire industry, which will effectively promote the continuous improvement of the overall energy efficiency level of the entire industry.
The second is to implement dynamic adjustments and strengthen the leadership of energy efficiency levels. The 2023 edition of Energy Efficiency Level proposes to dynamically adjust the energy efficiency benchmark and benchmark levels in key areas based on industry development and standard formulation and revision. The 2023 edition of Energy Efficiency Level combines the revision of energy consumption quota standards in various industries, and adjusts and improves the benchmark values or benchmark values of 4 out of the 25 key areas involved in the 2021 edition of Energy Efficiency Level. It further strengthens the leading role and benchmark constraints of energy efficiency benchmarks, encourages and guides industry enterprises to base themselves on long-term development and implement energy-saving and carbon reduction transformation and upgrading to high standards.
The third is to continue promoting and implementing classification. The 2023 edition of Energy Efficiency Level proposes different requirements for different energy efficiency level projects in terms of project transformation standards and time, providing key reference indicators for scientific, orderly, and classified promotion of energy conservation and carbon reduction work. The 2023 edition of Energy Efficiency Level requires that proposed and ongoing projects be implemented in accordance with energy efficiency benchmark levels, and fully achieve benchmark levels to promote high-quality development; For existing projects with energy efficiency between benchmark and benchmark levels, guide enterprises to make every effort to improve and make every provision; For existing projects with energy efficiency lower than the benchmark level, a clear time frame for transformation, upgrading, and elimination shall be established. In terms of transformation timeline, different from the original key areas, the 2023 Energy Efficiency Level requires that for newly added areas with energy efficiency lower than the benchmark level, technical transformation or elimination should be completed by the end of 2026 in principle. Previously released areas should continue the previous policy requirements, and should be completed by the end of 2025 in principle.This not only further clarifies the requirements for renovation of projects with different energy efficiency levels, but also reserves time for energy-saving and carbon reduction renovation in new areas, which is conducive to ensuring the stability of the industrial chain supply chain and the smooth operation of the economy and society.
2、 Comprehensive implementation of policies provides important guarantees for promoting energy conservation and carbon reduction in key industrial areas.
One is to coordinate and connect work effectively. For the 11 key areas newly included in the scope of technological transformation, it is necessary to timely summarize the relevant work experience in the early stage of energy efficiency assessment in key areas, formulation of technical transformation implementation plans, and promotion of key energy-saving and carbon reduction projects. The newly added areas should be included in the energy-saving and carbon reduction work in the local petrochemical key areas in a timely manner to ensure orderly policy connection and stable implementation of the plans.
The second is to make good use of existing policy tools. The 2023 edition of Energy Efficiency Level proposes to fully utilize existing policy tools, including incentive policies such as medium and long-term loans, green credit, green bonds, climate investment and financing, as well as restrictive measures such as tiered electricity prices, energy conservation supervision, and environmental supervision and law enforcement. By strengthening policy coordination, we can effectively stimulate the internal driving force of energy-saving and carbon reduction transformation and upgrading in enterprises.
The third is to strengthen financial services. The 2023 edition of Energy Efficiency Level proposes to promote financial institutions to provide high-quality financial services to energy-saving and carbon reduction transformation and upgrading projects under the premise of controllable risks and sustainable business, and implement tax preferential policies for energy-saving specialized equipment, technological transformation, and comprehensive resource utilization. Through various means such as financial and tax incentives, we will further alleviate the shortage of renovation funds, accelerate the pace of energy-saving and carbon reduction renovation and upgrading for enterprises, and promote the overall improvement of energy efficiency in the industry.
The fourth is to strengthen publicity and guidance. The 2023 edition of Energy Efficiency Level proposes to continuously optimize and improve the implementation plan for energy-saving and carbon reduction technology transformation in the local area, and form a batch of typical experiences that can be referenced, replicated, and promoted. By promoting advanced experiences and typical cases, we aim to create a favorable atmosphere for the whole society to jointly promote energy conservation and carbon reduction in key industries.
The release of "Energy Efficiency Level 2023 Edition" will further leverage the leading and constraining role of energy efficiency indicators, promote energy-saving, carbon reduction, transformation, upgrading, and green transformation development in key industrial areas, and provide important support for achieving the carbon peak target as scheduled by 2030. (Li Miao and Li Yongliang from the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation)
Article source: National Development and Reform Commission