Chinanews.com, Beijing, September 5 (Reporter Pang Wuji) As the carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals are gradually implemented in various places, a marathon "big test" has come for enterprises.
The "dual-carbon" goal means a complete transformation of the economic growth model, and the transition time is tight, companies must find a way to reduce carbon while developing.
Are Chinese companies ready?
Many companies propose timetables
Xiong Yi, senior vice president of Schneider Electric, head of the China Region of the Strategy and Development Department, and Dean of Schneider Electric’s Business Value Research Institute, revealed in an interview with reporters from Chinanews.com and other media during the China International Trade in Services Fair in 2021 that according to the investigation, Nearly 40% of the interviewed companies indicated that they have a clear timetable and emission reduction plan for carbon neutrality. Among the leading companies, this proportion is expected to increase to 80% within three years.
Schneider Electric Business Value Research Institute recently conducted surveys on more than 110 leading companies in 21 industries, including chemical, building materials, finance, consumer, logistics, and electronics manufacturing.
The results showed that more than half of the companies said they would become the industry's carbon reduction pioneers in the next five years, and nearly 90% of the companies hope to reach the industry average level of carbon governance. This signal reflects the overall confidence of the companies in carbon reduction.
In June of this year, many companies such as Didi Chuxing and BYD stated that they will strive to clarify the timetable and roadmap for “carbon peak and carbon neutrality” by the end of 2021, and reduce the carbon emission intensity of the travel and circulation sector year by year.
Many giants in the steel, petrochemical and other industries have also proposed to achieve carbon neutrality ahead of schedule.
Sinopec proposed that it will strive to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 10 years ahead of the national goal.
Baowu Steel also proposed to strive to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
In addition, many power companies such as State Power Investment Corporation, Datang Group, Huaneng Group and other power companies have also proposed their respective timetables for achieving carbon peaks, which are all advanced to varying degrees compared with the national carbon peak targets in 2030.
The Three Gorges Group stated that it strives to be the first to achieve carbon peak in 2023 and achieve carbon neutrality in 2040.
Does carbon neutrality require major technological transformation?
For companies, what areas do they need to invest in carbon reduction?
Xiong Yi pointed out that under normal circumstances, including equipment transformation, is to make these equipment more automated and more energy-efficient.
The period may include investment in R&D, supply chain, materials, etc.
In addition, there are investment software, digital systems and related service consulting.
The above survey also showed that more than 90% of the interviewed companies indicated that they would apply digital technology to their carbon governance.
Chen Weiwei, vice president of Schneider Electric and head of the service business in China, explained that if you want to reduce carbon, you need to know how much carbon is currently consumed. This requires the interconnection of first-line equipment on site to obtain real-time carbon emissions, and then collect this information. , Process in batches to get the next step.
These can all be achieved through digital systems.
But Xiong Yi believes that for small and medium-sized enterprises, this does not mean that technological transformation must be carried out.
He explained that, in fact, digital technology and low carbon are not separate.
While using digitization to improve the efficiency of the supply chain, it also reduces the cost of the supply chain through this low-carbon approach.
For example, for low-carbon packaging, replace the more expensive and non-recyclable materials with recyclable and lower-carbon materials.
High energy-consuming industries pay back on average in 5-8 years
Xiong Yi believes that the investment and return of each industry or enterprise are not the same.
From a long-term perspective, the average input and output of high energy consumption industries such as cement, chemical industry, and steel is still relatively long. 5 to 8 years is an average. Investment in consulting services, etc.
However, if it is specific to a certain system, such as a system such as a microgrid, there is actually not such a large investment, and the investment can be recovered within about a year.
Such as: real estate, some transportation industries, etc. may use this quick-win solution.
Schneider Electric released carbon neutral service results at the service trade fair, including carbon neutral strategy and top-level design consulting services, electrical asset health services, electrical system optimization services, energy efficiency improvement services, and integrated energy services.
Prevent "sports" carbon reduction
Regarding the "movement-style" carbon reduction issues in some places, Liu Shijin, deputy director of the Economic Committee of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and vice chairman of the China Development Research Foundation, said at a forum of the Service Trade Association on the 4th that it should be clear The key to achieving the carbon peak carbon neutral goal is to replace traditional technologies with green technologies. To reduce carbon emissions, not to reduce production capacity, not to slow down the growth rate, and not to artificially disrupt normal supply and demand without green technologies. order.
To solve this problem, Xiong Yi said, it is necessary to make a top-level plan.
For example, when constructing new energy power generation projects, localities or enterprises must have a clear understanding of energy demand and structure.
In this curve, which ones can be supplemented or replaced with new energy.
After this plan is completed, deciding how to invest will reduce blindness.
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