Recently, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the National Bureau of Statistics issued the Announcement on the Release of Carbon Dioxide Emission Factors for Electricity in 2021 (hereinafter referred to as the "Announcement"). The person in charge of the Department of Climate Change of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment answered questions from reporters on issues related to the Announcement.
Q: Please briefly explain the significance of this release of the CO2 emission factor for electricity.
answerThe power sector is an important source of carbon dioxide emissions, accounting for more than one-third of the total carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion in the world, and more than 40% of China's carbon dioxide emissions. The CO2 emission factor of electricity is an important basic parameter for calculating the CO2 emissions of electricity consumption. The carbon dioxide emission factor of electricity released this time can be used as a reference for different entities when calculating the carbon dioxide emissions of electricity consumption, which is an important measure to implement the requirements of "overall promotion of emission factor calculation" in the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Establishment of a Unified and Standardized Carbon Emission Statistical Accounting System", and provides basic data support for carbon emission accounting.
Q: What are the CO2 emission factors for electricity released this time?
answerThe 2021 electricity carbon dioxide emission factors released this time are divided into three calibers, including the 2021 national, regional and provincial average carbon dioxide emission factors, the 2021 national average carbon dioxide emission factors for electricity (excluding non-fossil energy electricity traded in the market), and the 2021 national carbon dioxide emission factors for fossil energy electricity. The differences between the three caliber factors are as follows: the first caliber factor is the carbon dioxide emissions per unit of power generation (including thermal power, hydropower, wind power, nuclear power, solar power and other power generation of all power types), and the calculation method and data timeliness are internationally comparable; CO2 emissions from all types of electricity, including solar power generation, excluding non-fossil energy electricity traded in the market, and the third factor is CO2 emissions per unit of fossil electricity generation (excluding biomass power generation from thermal power).
Q: Will the CO2 emission factor for electricity be updated regularly in the future?
A: In the next step, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the National Bureau of Statistics will establish a mechanism for the regular release of carbon dioxide emission factors from electricity. According to the update of the basic data, we plan to release the 2022 electricity CO2 emission factor as early as possible in 2024, and will update and regularly release the electricity CO2 emission factor in a timely manner. At the same time, we are organizing and carrying out research on electricity carbon footprint factors, and will further release electricity carbon footprint factors when mature.