The Dream Factory of China

Qianhai is mulling the establishment of an energy research institute to support its endeavor of building a green free trade area, it was disclosed at the 10th District Energy International Summit Forum & CDEA 2019 Annual Conference recently held in Qianhai.

The energy research institute is one of several moves Qianhai has made to diversify its energy supply modes and boost low-carbon economic development, according to Guo Jun, executive president of Shenzhen Qianhai Energy Investment Development Co. Ltd., at the forum.

Guo said Qianhai has reached cooperation agreements on green energy with multiple parties within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, including the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department of the Hong Kong government and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Ecopark.

Qianhai has paid extra attention to the development of the new-energy industry and the low-carbon economy over the past years, said Xie Huihui, vice director of the Qianhai Cooperation Zone Authority, at the forum.

According to Xie, all of the buildings and skyscrapers that are planned in Qianhai (covering a total floor space of 23.8 million square meters) will be energy-efficient constructions. Qianhai is also building a district cooling system, including 10 centralized cooling plants and 90 km of cooling pipelines, to service office buildings totaling a total floor space of 19 million square meters in Qianhai. Qianhai will be able to save 130 million kilowatt hours and reduce carbon dioxide emission by 160,000 tons annually after the completion of its district cooling system, equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide emissions absorbed by a carbon sink forest 25,000 hectare per year.

Currently, only two centralized cooling plants have been put into operation, servicing 1.2 million square meters of offices, and four other such plants are under construction. Guo said Qianhai has been actively exploring renewable energy, such as ocean energy, solar power and other forms of clean energy. “A number of projects which are under construction, including the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Center, will be energy-efficient buildings by solar power, the centralized cooling system, circulated water and air ventilation,” said Guo.

Qianhai has also taken the lead in the country by innovating a cross-border carbon finance business, said Xie. The Mawan Power Plant in Qianhai has managed to finance several million yuan from British Petroleum with 400 tons of carbon emission. The Qianhai authority has also worked with the electricity carmaker BYD to set up an all-electricity fleet for public transportation in the area. “Qianhai will endeavor to develop green economy, boost green consumption and form a green urban center,” said Xie.

The Shenzhen Qianhai Energy Investment Development Co. Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Qianhai Investment Holdings under the Qianhai authority and is responsible for the energy development in the free trade zone.