Hebei speeds up demolition of coal-fired boilers

 
To continue improving its air quality, Hebei province in North China will continue to upgrade or remove coal-fired boilers, according to information from Hebei Office of Ecological Environment.
 
Based on a new three-year coal-fired boiler renovation and upgrading plan laid out by the government of Hebei, the province will remove 10,718 coal-fired boilers between 2018 and 2020. It is expected to reduce the total winter heating supply capacity by 19,588 T/h and coal consumption by  4.22 million tons. The annual average concentration of PM2.5 in Hebei is expected to decrease by 3 micrograms per cubic meter.
 
This year, Hebei plans to remove 6764 coal-fired boilers with a total heating supply capacity of 13,482 T/h.
 
As of October, 6,492 boilers with a heating supply capacity of 35 T/h or less have been removed, accounting for 96 percent of the total number and representing a cut in heating supply capacity of 12,744 T/h.
 
Also, 158 boilers with a heating supply capacity above 35 T/h have been renovated and upgraded, accounting for 70 percent of the annual renovation target.
 
When Hebei reaches this year’s boiler removal target, emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, PM2.5 and volatile organic compounds are estimated to be cut by 23,000 tons, 5,000 tons, 34,000 tons and 12,000 tons respectively.
 
Taking action to renovate or remove heating boilers is critical in preventing and controlling air pollution, said Ni Xiaoming, deputy researcher at the atmospheric environment administration of Hebei Office of Ecological Environment.
 
Ni explained that a significant improvement in air quality has been seen in Hebei since implementing the boiler renovation and upgrading plan.
 
In 2017, a total of 39,794 coal-fired boilers were shut down, in a move that resulted in a decrease of average concentrations of PM2.5 by 6 micrograms per cubic meter.
 
Ni also explained that the central government placed great importance on fighting air pollution and offered subsidies for the project. In 2017, five cities including Shijiazhuang, Tangshan, Langfang, Baoding and Hengshui successfully obtained subsidies for using clean energy to replace coal as central heating fuel in winter.
 
According to the national subsidy standard, the capital city Shijiazhuang obtained 700 million yuan ($100.75m) per year and the other four cities respectively obtained 500 million per year; and the subsidy will be handed out for three consecutive years.