Weekly Observations on Ecological Environment
Chint New Energy, a leading solar company, plans to invest in a manufacturing facility in Turkey. The first batch of pilot projects for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) interactions has also been announced, while Finland has shut down its last coal-fired power plant.
The Weekly Observations on Ecological Environment is a unique report produced by TMT Media, aimed at presenting the most significant global policies, events, discussions, and data in the ecological and environmental fields each week. Our goal is to provide readers with authentic and cutting-edge information to capture the subtle yet crucial changes around us.
Policy Updates
On April 2, the General Office of the Communist Party of China and the State Council issued opinions on improving the price governance mechanism. This document emphasizes the need to establish energy pricing policies that promote green and low-carbon transitions, enhance the pricing mechanisms for natural gas generation and energy storage, and optimize pricing for local renewable energy transactions.
Additionally, six government departments released the Action Plan for Promoting High-Quality Development of the Heat Pump Industry. They aim to significantly enhance manufacturing and technology development in the heat pump sector by 2030, with a target of increasing the energy efficiency of key heat pump products by over 20%.
Vehicle-to-Grid Interaction Pilot Projects
On April 2, authorities released the list of the first batch of pilot projects for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) interactions. Nine cities, including Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Changzhou, have been selected, along with 30 specific projects, such as the V2G collaborative control project based on new energy storage in Beijing. Relevant departments are urged to actively promote these pilot projects, with a summary due by the end of 2025.
Renewable Energy Green Power Certificate Implementation
The National Energy Administration published a notice on March 31, seeking feedback on the Implementation Rules for the Issuance of Renewable Energy Green Power Certificates. The rules stipulate that one certificate will be issued for every 1,000 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy generated. Additional provisions detail how projects involving various energy sources and storage facilities should be monitored and measured.
EU Delays 2040 Climate Goals
The European Commission recently announced a delay in the release of its 2040 climate reduction targets, originally scheduled for the end of Q1 2023. The EU aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 90% from 1990 levels by 2040, but economic challenges, including inflation and slow recovery, have hindered progress towards this goal.
Japan’s Solar Energy Strategy
According to PV Magazine, Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) has introduced a new solar energy development strategy aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. This strategy focuses on advancing key solar technologies, with plans to expand renewable energy’s share to 40%-50% of Japan’s energy mix by 2040, of which solar energy will account for 23%-29%.
Chint New Energy’s Investment in Turkey
On April 2, Chint New Energy announced plans to establish a factory in Turkey, following an agreement reached by Chairman Lu Chuan with Turkish President Erdogan on March 26. This facility will be the first and only fully foreign-owned solar cell factory in Turkey, featuring advanced TOPCon battery production lines, with 80% of its output intended for export.
Finland’s Coal Power Plant Shutdown
On April 1, Finnish energy company Helen officially closed the Salmisaari coal power plant in Helsinki, achieving its goal of completely phasing out coal-fired power generation four years ahead of schedule. However, CEO Olli Sirkka indicated that a small amount of coal might still be used in emergency scenarios, but overall, Finland is no longer reliant on coal for regular production.
