Renewable energy for cleaner air: How cities and mayors in Central East Asia are leading the way – C40 Cities

Improving Air Quality and Renewable Energy Production in China

Improving air quality, creating healthier communities, and protecting vulnerable groups from the impacts of the climate crisis are critical, and renewable solutions are a big puzzle piece for climate recovery.

China Leading in Renewable Energy Production

Recent studies show that China is building two-thirds of the world’s wind and solar projects, leading the way in global renewable energy production. Learn more about the clean energy transition in C40 cities in Central East Asia and how mayors are leading the charge towards a greener future for all.

Zhenjiang: Biomass Movement

In Zhenjiang, the city is experiencing a growing biomass movement as an alternative energy source to fossil fuels. The city of Danyang, under the jurisdiction of Zhenjiang, has been closely studying biomass power plants to explore even greater potential emission reductions. The master plan includes incentivizing enterprises that meet ultra-low emission requirements and reduce emissions in a sustainable way. A project in Danyang currently produces a steady source of power and heat based on crops like wheat and cotton.

“We will coordinate environmental protection and economic development, stay committed to new industrialization, and strive to win the initiative for high-quality development,” said Zhenjiang Mayor Xu Shuhai.

Qingdao: Net-Zero Carbon Emissions

Qingdao prioritizes greener low-carbon development in both urban and rural areas. The city has incorporated the concept of “net-zero carbon emissions” into its urban construction works. Projects such as zero-carbon industrial parks and zero-carbon communities have been launched to spur building decarbonization and energy transition, contributing to cleaner air globally. The Sino-German Ecopark, a pilot in the C40 Green and Thriving Neighborhoods program, is actively building a zero-carbon pilot zone. This initiative is expected to save 20 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity and reduce 45,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year through the integration of renewable energy sources and an efficient ground-source heat pump system.

“We have made coordinated efforts to cut carbon emissions, reduce pollution, expand green development, and pursue economic growth, gone all out to lower carbon emissions in key areas, and worked actively on green and low-carbon scientific and technological innovation to facilitate the green and low-carbon transition of the development model,” said Mayor of Qingdao Zhao Haozhi.

Dalian: Largest Offshore Wind Power Project

Dalian has built the largest and farthest offshore wind power project in northern China. The Zhuanghe Offshore Wind Farm consists of 111 wind turbines with an installed capacity of 650 megawatts. It delivers feed-in power up to 1.73 billion kWh annually, saving 540,000 tonnes of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 1.12 million tonnes per year. The project will further drive regional development of the offshore wind power sector and accelerate the shift towards clean energy in the Liaoning Province.

“Dalian has maintained good air quality for more than 300 days for seven years in a row and saw 319 days with blue skies in 2023. We have sped up green and low-carbon transition through solid steps in three aspects of structural adjustment and spared no effort to develop new energy industries, and built an energy base integrating wind, solar, thermal, and nuclear power generation and power storage,” said Mayor of Dalian Chen Shaowang.

Nanjing: Energy Stations for a New Power System

Nanjing is developing energy stations as a solution for a new power system in the modern city. The Nanjing Jiangbei Energy Storage Power Station, for example, produces enough electricity in an hour to support the energy use of 26,000 households in one day. The Jiangbei New Area will see the creation of a new power system to raise overall energy efficiency, with a power supply reliability rate of up to 99%.

“New quality productive forces themselves represent green productivity amid the prevailing trend of green and low-carbon development,” said Mayor of Nanjing Chen Zhichang.

Hangzhou: Integrated Energy Project

Hangzhou plans to launch an integrated energy project that uses reclaimed water as a dual cooling and heating source. The clean energy produced through this initiative will provide heating and cooling systems for approximately 2.3 million square meters of buildings in Transfar Innocity. The project is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 26,000 tonnes annually, significantly lower than emissions produced by traditional air conditioning systems. The outputs will help mitigate the urban heat island effect and improve air quality through clean energy.

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
   • Indicator: Proportion of total energy consumption from renewable sources

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management
   • Indicator: Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in cities

3. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
   • Indicator: Number of countries that have communicated the strengthening of institutional, systemic, and individual capacity-building to implement adaptation, mitigation, and technology transfer

Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are:

• Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
• Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management
• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Indicator: Proportion of total energy consumption from renewable sources (for Target 7.2)
• Indicator: Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in cities (for Target 11.6)
• Indicator: Number of countries that have communicated the strengthening of institutional, systemic, and individual capacity-building to implement adaptation, mitigation, and technology transfer (for Target 13.2)

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: c40.org