Chinese city copes with winter air pollution

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China has been struggling for years with endemic air pollution, and much of the problem stems from thousands of small, inefficient coal boilers.

In Shenyang, the capital city of northeastern Liaoning Province, local authorities are working hard to provide heating without polluting the air.

An energy plant has been opened this July, which is located nearly 15km away from main residential areas. It has two huge boilers, that supply heating to 200,000 residents.

/CGTN Photo

Deputy general manager of Green Environmental Fang Ning said the company chose the site because it is far from residential blocks.

“We also studied the wind direction, making sure pollutants won't be blown towards residential areas in the winter,” he said.

When operating at full capacity, meaning 24/7, the plant's two boilers burn a total of 350 tons of coal per day. The plant has advanced dust collection and desulfurization facilities so it does not emit a lot of pollutants.

Fang said it has reached the so-called “ultra-low emissions” level.

“Our plant emits less than 10 milligrams of dust per cubic meter, almost two thirds lower than the national standard.”

/CGTN Photo‍

Inefficient boilers on the outskirts of Shenyang were once common, producing thick, black smoke.

The old boilers are now being decommissioned and replaced with modern heating plants.

More than 80 small boilers in the city's Liaozhong district have been closed this year after local authorities launched a new campaign to reduce air pollution.

By 2018, China aims to shut down almost half a million old coal boilers. Gas boilers will replace many of them, a move that may not be suitable for cities in the northeast.

Fang said that natural-gas heating is not the best option because of gas supply issues, especially during peak hours.

“Coal supplies are more abundant. It is more reliable,” he said.

/CGTN Photo

Although centralized heating appears to be the perfect model for reducing pollution, it also has disadvantages like energy loss. Some locals complain of low room temperature in their apartments.

Fang explained that 20km supply line is the reason for heat loss. He said two additional large boilers could solve the problem.