The State Grid Corporation has recently suggested that to improve the environmental condition of central eastern part of China would necessitate accelerated adjustment of the energy and power structural layout of the country and strict control in the construction of coal-fired power stations in the region.

In the beginning of this year, central eastern China experienced over 20 days of persistent fog and haze, seriously impacting on production as well as the life and health of the people. The fundamental cause lies in the fact that the industrial and vehicle pollutant emissions in this region far exceeded its environmental carrying capacity.

Bai Jianhua, Director of the Institute for Energy Strategy and Planning of the State Grid Corporation, revealed that, at present, coal power projects both currently under construction and in the preliminary stage totaled 120 million kilowatts in central east China. On completion of these projects, the annual coal consumption in this region will increase by another 20% or more. Unless the development of coal-fired power plants is effectively controlled, the air quality in the central east part of the country is bound to deteriorate further.

Bai Jianhua suggested that except the approved coal power projects already under construction, no more coal power project should be approved. Construction of those projects already approved should not go ahead in principle. Even essential cogeneration projects should consist of large scale highly efficient clean units, resolutely putting an end to the approval of inefficient, small and dispersed units. The new energy is the direction of electricity development in the future. Installed wind farm capacity in East and West Inner Mongolia and Gansu has nearly reached 30%. The urgent need is to accelerate the construction of cross-region power grids so such clean energy can be transmitted to central eastern China. Relevant ministries and departments are recommended to complete the state grid special project planning and to start the construction of a batch of UHV AC and DC projects. This is the only way to co-ordinate the full use of clean energy and environmental carrying capacity in west China, thus easing the increasingly worsening environmental problems in central eastern China.