Latest Policy | The relevant responsible comrades of the National Development and Reform Commission answered reporters' questions on the "Notice on Further Strengthening the Updating and Upgrading of Energy Conservation Standards and the Implementation of Applications".

In order to fully implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, implement the Energy Conservation Law of the People's Republic of China, the Standardization Law of the People's Republic of China, the Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Complete, Accurate and Comprehensive Implementation of the New Development Concept and Do a Good Job in Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality, the Action Plan for Carbon Peaking Before 2030, the National Standardization Development Outline, the "14th Five-Year Plan" Comprehensive Work Plan for Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction, and continue to promote the updating, upgrading and application of energy-saving standards, the National Development and Reform Commission, The State Administration for Market Regulation recently jointly issued the "Notice on Further Strengthening the Update, Upgrading and Application Implementation of Energy Conservation Standards" (Fagai Huan Zi Gui [2023] No. 269, hereinafter referred to as the "Notice"). Relevant responsible comrades of the National Development and Reform Commission were interviewed and answered questions from reporters.

Q: What is the background of the Circular?

A: Energy conservation standards are the foundation of the national energy conservation system, and they are also an important support for promoting energy conservation and carbon reduction in the whole society. Actively promoting the standardization of energy conservation can strengthen the fine management of energy conservation and carbon reduction in key areas, and help energy-using entities to achieve clear goals, evidence-based and targeted in the process of energy conservation management.

China attaches great importance to the standardization of energy conservation, up to now, has issued and implemented 108 national standards for mandatory energy consumption limits, 66 national standards for mandatory energy efficiency, and 190 recommended national standards for energy conservation, and the basic establishment of the energy-saving standard system has played an important role in promoting technological innovation, promoting industrial upgrading, and accelerating green and low-carbon development. However, compared with the new situation and new requirements of energy conservation and carbon reduction in the "14th Five-Year Plan", there is still a certain gap in the standardization of energy conservation, which is mainly reflected in the low efficiency of standard formulation and revision, the lack of advanced indicators, the lack of wide coverage, and the insufficient application and implementation efforts. In order to further accelerate the formulation and revision of energy-saving standards, improve the requirements of energy efficiency levels of key industries and important products and equipment, strengthen the application and implementation of energy-saving standards, and provide support for actively and steadily promoting carbon peak and carbon neutrality and accelerating the green transformation of development mode, the National Development and Reform Commission and the State Administration for Market Regulation jointly issued the "Notice" on the basis of in-depth investigation and research and extensive listening to opinions and suggestions, and made arrangements for further strengthening the updating, upgrading and application of energy-saving standards.

Q: What are the main tasks deployed in the Notice?

Answer: The "Notice" has deployed 12 key tasks in four aspects: accelerating the update and upgrading of energy-saving standards, strengthening the implementation and supervision and inspection of energy-saving standards, strengthening the positive incentives for energy efficiency, and consolidating the foundation of energy-saving standardization.

In terms of accelerating the update and upgrading of energy-saving standards. The first is to speed up the formulation and revision of a number of energy-saving standards in key areas. Organize and implement the "14th Five-Year Plan" 100 energy-saving and carbon-reduction standard improvement actions. Clarify the focus of energy conservation standardization in key areas such as industry, energy, urban and rural construction, transportation, public institutions, agriculture and rural areas. The second is to steadily increase the energy consumption quota requirements for key energy-using industries. Clarify the value principles of the advanced value, access value and limit value of the national standard for mandatory energy consumption quotas for key energy-using industries, and promote the energy efficiency level to be "mentioned as much as possible". The third is to continue to improve the energy efficiency level of key energy-using products and equipment. Clarify the value principles of the mandatory national energy efficiency standards for key energy-using products and equipment, and support the upgrading and transformation of products and equipment. Fourth, we will continue to expand the coverage of energy-saving standards. Make up for the shortcomings of energy-saving standards in key areas, improve the construction of supporting systems, and coordinate the research and formulation of energy-saving and carbon emission standards.

In terms of effectively strengthening the application and implementation of energy-saving standards and supervision and inspection. The first is to consolidate the main responsibility of energy-using units. Relevant units are required to strengthen energy-saving management according to the requirements of the standard to ensure rational and efficient energy use. The second is to strictly implement the national standards for energy conservation. It is required to strictly implement energy-saving standards in project energy-saving review, energy efficiency label management, energy-saving and low-carbon product certification, government procurement and other links. The third is to effectively strengthen the supervision and inspection of the implementation of standards. Through the adoption of energy-saving supervision, product quality spot checks, credit management, etc., do a good job in the implementation of energy-saving standards supervision and inspection.

In terms of strengthening the positive incentives for energy efficiency leadership. The first is to vigorously promote the energy-saving, carbon-reduction and renovation of key industries and products and equipment. For projects that have reached an advanced level of energy efficiency after transformation, the existing funding channels for investment in the central budget will be used to actively support those who meet the requirements. The second is to strengthen comprehensive policy support. Improve government procurement, taxation, finance and other support measures, and strengthen positive incentives for leading energy efficiency enterprises and projects.

In terms of consolidating the foundation of energy-saving standardization. The first is to strengthen the data support of energy-saving standardization work. Through the implementation of energy utilization status reports, energy-saving supervision, energy efficiency labeling record management, etc., improve the completeness, accuracy and timeliness of energy-saving standard formulation and revision data. The second is to establish an evaluation and feedback mechanism for the implementation of energy-saving standards. Establish an evaluation index system and monitoring methods, build statistical analysis points, and regularly carry out evaluation of the implementation effect of energy-saving standards in key areas. The third is to do a good job in the overall planning of energy conservation standardization work funding guarantee. Encourage all relevant parties to support the innovation of energy-saving standards and the development of energy-saving standardization service industry.

Q: What are the requirements of the "Notice" for the principle of mandatory energy-saving standards?

Answer: Mandatory energy consumption quota standards and mandatory energy efficiency standards are the basic requirements for meeting energy-saving management and must be implemented in accordance with the law. The "Notice" proposes that the mandatory energy consumption quota standards for key energy-using industries are divided into advanced values, access values and limit values. Among them, the advanced value is benchmarked against the leading level of energy efficiency in the same industry at home or abroad, and in principle, its value should represent the energy efficiency level of about 5% of the industry; The access value is the energy efficiency level that must be met by new production capacity such as new construction and reconstruction and expansion projects, and in principle, its value should represent the energy efficiency level of about 20% of the industry; The limit value is the energy efficiency level that the production of existing enterprises must achieve, and the value principle should be to eliminate a certain proportion of the existing high-energy-consuming backward production capacity, and eliminate about 20% of the backward products and production capacity on the basis of energy-saving transformation. The access and limit values of the mandatory energy consumption quota standards of the industries involved in the "Energy Efficiency Benchmarking Levels and Benchmark Levels in Key Areas of High Energy-Consuming Industries (2021 Edition)" and "Benchmarking Levels and Benchmark Levels in Key Areas of Clean and Efficient Coal Utilization (2022 Edition)" should be coordinated with the current benchmarking and benchmark levels.

The mandatory energy efficiency standards for key energy-using products and equipment are divided into 3 levels (some are 5 levels). Among them, the level 1 should be the leading level of energy efficiency of similar energy-using products and equipment in China or international, and in principle, its value should represent the energy efficiency level of about 5% of similar energy-using products and equipment; Level 2 is used as the basis for energy-saving product certification and equipment procurement for new construction and expansion projects, and in principle, its value should represent the energy efficiency level of about 20% of similar energy-using products and equipment; Level 3 (or Level 5) is the minimum energy efficiency level threshold for energy-using products and equipment to enter the market, according to the technical characteristics and energy efficiency status of various energy-using products and equipment, in principle, about 20% of backward energy-using products and equipment should be eliminated. The products and equipment involved in the "Advanced Level of Energy Efficiency, Energy Saving Level and Access Level of Key Energy-using Products and Equipment (2022 Edition)" shall be coordinated with the current advanced level, energy saving level and access level of the mandatory energy efficiency standards of Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 (or Level 5).

The value principle in the "Notice" is the principle of the indicators at all levels in the formulation and revision of energy-saving standards, and in the process of specifically promoting the formulation and revision of various standards, it will be combined with the current situation of energy efficiency, production capacity, and technical characteristics of products and equipment in different industries to be grasped as a whole.

Q: How to promote the implementation of the Circular?

Answer: As an important technical starting point, energy-saving standards play a very positive role in continuously improving energy efficiency and promoting the green and low-carbon development of key areas and industries. All regions, relevant departments and industries should fully understand the importance of strengthening the upgrading and application of energy-saving standards, attach great importance to energy-saving standardization, strengthen departmental coordination, strengthen publicity and training, and promote the upgrading and application of energy-saving standards to achieve practical results.

Organizational leadership should be strengthened. All relevant departments should improve the energy-saving standard update and upgrading mechanism, speed up the progress of standard formulation and revision, strengthen the guidance of the whole process, and ensure the advanced, scientific and effective energy-saving standard indicators. All relevant departments shall strengthen the application and implementation of energy-saving standards in accordance with their responsibilities, and give full play to the leading and restraining role of standards. Encourage all regions and relevant units to formulate local standards and group standards that are stricter than national standards in light of actual conditions.

It is necessary to strengthen publicity and training. All relevant departments should actively carry out policy interpretation and business training for energy-saving standardization, and broaden the channels for information release of energy-saving standards. Make full use of theme activities such as World Standards Day, National Energy Conservation Publicity Week and National Low Carbon Day to vigorously publicize energy-saving standards and enhance the awareness of energy conservation in the whole society.

Source: National Development and Reform Commission