Media Coverage | CNE: Empowering de-carbonization across society with green electricity and promoting green transformation of the energy sector

Yicai published an article titled “CNE: Empowering de-carbonization across society through green electricity and promoting green transformation of the energy sector” on December 17th, introducing the development history of CNE as well as its efforts to realize de-carbonization goals and its milestone achievements on the road towards efficient, clean and low-carbon development. The article is as follows:

Seventeen years ago, CNE was established. The same year, its first wind power project, Liaoning Changtu 50MW wind farm, was put into operation. To date, the ratio of CNE’s green electricity transaction volume in attributable power generation volume has exceeded 11%.

Over the past 17 years, CNE, as a comprehensive energy enterprise specializing in the investment and operation of wind and solar power plants, and wind and solar power generation services, has continued “running” along the path of sustainable development, promoted the concept of green and low-carbon energy, and actively fulfilled social responsibilities. Yicai noted that CNE has won honors such as joining the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and earning a rating of “A” in MSCI ESG Ratings, which become the most noticeable highlights for the Group in green development.

By the end of June 2023, CNE had 77 power plants in China, the United States and other countries, with attributable installed capacity that has been put into operation totaling 3.5GW. In 2022 alone, the group achieved equity power generation of 6,673GWh, a year-on-year increase of 27.7%; Its attributable power generation in China reached 6,652GWh, a year-on-year increase of 27.8%.

A comprehensive renewable energy developer and operator focusing on green and clean energy, CNE is committed to empowering de-carbonization across society with green electricity and promoting green transformation of the energy sector. By the end of 2022, the group had cumulatively reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 47,543,000 tons through providing green electricity. CNE pledges to increase the cumulative volume of reduced greenhouse gas emissions to 65 million tons by 2024 through the provision of green electricity to society.

Wind power, photovoltaic power, and energy storage stations hold the key for CNE to realize its de-carbonization goals.

In 2022, the Xiangbei 100MW agro-optical complementary project that CNE put into operation in Hubei Province generated electricity of 177,400MWh, and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 126,909 tons.

In addition to economic revenues, the project has also yielded remarkable social benefits. “The Xiangbei agro-optical complementary project in Hubei has not only generated business revenues, but also boosted employment of local farmers and contributed to rural revitalization. This project has achieved the effect of generating electricity with solar panels and planting crops beneath,” said CNE.

Moreover, energy storage system integration company established by CNE plays a crucial role in transforming the power system to large-scale and high-proportion new energy utilization. By 2022, the company had completed seven high-tech projects in fields like energy storage with a total capacity of 280MWh, and constructed and put into operation four energy storage projects in new energy stations with a total capacity of 34MWh.

Taking the supporting energy storage project for Hailiban wind power project in Fuxin, Liaoning Province as an example, it adopts multiple energy storage technologies. During off-peak hours, the wind power farm reserves surplus electricity in the energy storage system, which can be used for production and operation purposes during peak hours.

In 2022, the Group invested funds to build energy storage facilities in three photovoltaic power stations in Tibet Autonomous Region’s Nêdong, Comai and Gyantse, respectively. The facilities play a role in providing emergency power supply and mending up the gap in power demand, helping the local areas relieve the power storage in winter.

With the implementation of policies on green electricity and green certificates one after another, a voluntary carbon market called China Certified Emission Reduction (CCER) is expected to be fully launched.

In the first half of 2023, CNE realized green electricity transactions totaling 475 million KWh, with a revenue of more than 12 million yuan. The number of green certificates issued for its subsidy-free projects saw a year-on-year increase of 75%, and the value of newly signed green certificate sales contracts added up to about 30 million yuan. So far, the Group has applied for and obtained both GEC and IREC, launched 22 CDM/CCER projects, and participated in trans-province/autonomous region and local green electricity transactions in Qinghai, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi, and other places.

The global energy landscape is undergoing profound changes. Over the past 17 years of development, CNE has remained committed to a sustainable long-term vision, and made a number of milestone achievements. It is believed that the group will continue moving towards efficient, clean and low-carbon energy in the future, empower de-carbonization across society, and promote green transformation of the energy sector through developing green electricity.