Five Questions and Five Answers of Energy Efficiency Benchmarking Levels and Benchmark Levels in Key Industrial Areas (2023 Edition)

In order to thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress and accelerate the green transformation of the mode of development, a few days ago, the National Development and Reform Commission, together with relevant departments, formulated and promulgated the "benchmark level and benchmark level of Energy efficiency in key Industrial areas (2023 version)" (hereinafter referred to as "Energy efficiency level 2023 version"), which will be implemented as of the date of issuance. The responsible comrades of the Industry Department of the National Development and Reform Commission were interviewed in this regard and answered the reporter's questions.

Q: compared with the previous version, what is the scope of application of the energy efficiency benchmark level and benchmarking level in the 2023 edition?

Energy efficiency level 2023 version expands the scope of application of energy efficiency benchmark level and benchmarking level, on the basis of 25 previously defined key areas, such as oil refining, coal-to-coke, steelmaking and ironmaking, cement, glass and ceramics, 11 new fields such as ethylene glycol, urea, titanium dioxide and industrial silicon have been added. The scope of energy-saving and carbon reduction transformation and upgrading will be further covered to the greater potential for energy efficiency improvement, the rapid development of the industry and some light industrial areas.

Q: what changes have been made to the 2021 energy efficiency indicators by the 2023 version of the Energy efficiency level?

Compared with the 2021 version of the energy efficiency benchmarking level and benchmark level index, the "Energy efficiency level 2023 version" has appropriately improved the energy efficiency index values in some key areas, mainly in coal chemical industry, soda ash, ferroalloy and other fields, reflecting the inevitable trend of energy efficiency level of these industries following the industry development and continuous improvement, and strengthening the restraint and leading role of energy efficiency indicators. At the same time, the energy efficiency benchmark level and benchmarking level of some industries are also effectively linked up with the industry energy consumption quota standards being revised, reflecting the characteristics of policy coordination and linkage, which is conducive to the long-term and healthy development of related industries.

Q: for stock projects whose energy efficiency is lower than the benchmark level, what are the requirements for the transformation time limit of the 2023 version of the Energy efficiency level?

For the stock projects whose energy efficiency is lower than the benchmark level, the "Energy efficiency level 2023 version" requires all localities to guide enterprises to upgrade to above the energy efficiency benchmark level within the specified time limit, and to eliminate projects that cannot meet the target on schedule. With regard to the 25 key areas previously identified, such as oil refining, coal-to-coke, steelmaking and ironmaking, cement, glass, and ceramics, the "Energy efficiency level 2023 Edition" makes it clear that in principle, the relevant work should be completed by the end of 2025; for 11 new areas, such as ethylene glycol, urea, titanium dioxide and industrial silicon, in principle, the relevant work should be completed by the end of 2026.

Q: how can the 2023 version of Energy efficiency level be linked up with relevant policies?

"Energy efficiency level 2023" proposes to improve relevant supporting policies, make good use of policy "toolbox", play a policy "combination of punches", speed up the pace of enterprise transformation and upgrading, and improve the overall energy efficiency level of the industry.

First, strengthen the supervision and assessment of energy efficiency. For all kinds of projects that meet the scope of application of "Energy efficiency level 2023", we should strengthen the daily monitoring and on-site inspection of project energy efficiency indicators, give full play to the role of energy conservation supervision and environmental protection supervision and law enforcement, and strengthen supervision and management. we will speed up the implementation of energy conservation and carbon reduction transformation in enterprises.

The second is to give full play to the role of policy incentives. We should give full play to the incentive role of green electricity prices, finance and taxation, make full use of the discount policy on medium-and long-term loans for manufacturing and equipment purchase and renewal loans, and implement preferential tax policies such as special equipment for energy conservation, technological transformation, and comprehensive utilization of resources.

The third is to strengthen green financial support. We will encourage financial institutions to provide high-quality financial services such as green credit and green bonds to energy-saving and carbon reduction transformation and upgrading projects under the premise of controllable risks and commercial sustainability, so as to effectively stimulate the endogenous driving force of green and low-carbon transformation of enterprises.

Q: how to do a good job in the implementation of the 2023 version of the Energy efficiency level?

The industrial key areas mentioned in "Energy efficiency level 2023" are mainly related to the textile industry, paper and paper products industry, oil, coal and other fuel processing industry, chemical raw materials and chemical products manufacturing industry, chemical fiber manufacturing industry, rubber and plastic products industry, non-metallic mineral products industry, ferrous metal smelting and Calendering processing industry, non-ferrous metal smelting and Calendering processing industry. Further subdivided into 20 middle categories, 29 subcategories, a total of 36 key areas, specifically refined to the process level, in order to ensure that the indicators are clear, based on a clear, accurate implementation of policies, and avoid deviations in the implementation process.

In the next step, the National Development and Reform Commission will actively work with relevant departments to focus on promoting energy conservation and carbon reduction transformation in these areas, and on the basis of the "guidelines for the implementation of Energy Saving and carbon reduction Transformation and upgrading in key areas of High Energy-consuming Industries (2022 Edition)", organize research and issue new guidelines for the implementation of the transformation, sort out and put forward green and low-carbon technologies and equipment in each field, mature and applicable technology and equipment, and backward process equipment that should be phased out faster. For your reference in the follow-up work.