经济日报丨碳市场助电力行业绿色转型

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recent release of the "Opinions on Promoting Green and Low-Carbon Transition and Strengthening National Carbon Market Construction," which outlines the path and steps for improving and expanding the national carbon market, emphasizing its role as a crucial policy tool for addressing climate change and facilitating a comprehensive green transition in the economy and society [2]. Group 1: Carbon Market Development - The carbon market is essential for actively responding to climate change, with the power industry being a key player in achieving the "dual carbon" goals [2]. - Since the launch of the national carbon market, the power industry has shown strong commitment to carbon emission control, achieving a quota completion rate of over 99% annually from 2019 to 2023, reaching a record high of 99.98% in 2023 [2]. - From 2018 to 2024, the carbon dioxide emissions per unit of electricity generated decreased by 12.1%, while emissions per unit of thermal power generation dropped by 2.2% [2]. Group 2: Changes in the Power Industry - Over the past four years, the power industry has seen significant improvements in carbon reduction awareness and carbon trading practices, with over 80% of key emission units establishing carbon emission management systems [3]. - The carbon price has increased from 48 yuan per ton at the market's inception to a peak of 90 to 100 yuan per ton, indicating the initial effectiveness of the price discovery mechanism [3]. - The application and innovation of low-carbon technologies have accelerated, driven by the carbon market, which has promoted energy-saving renovations and the development of carbon capture and utilization technologies [3]. Group 3: Cost Reduction and Future Directions - The carbon market allows companies to use China Certified Emission Reduction (CCER) credits to offset 5% of their compliance quotas, reducing the burden on key emission units and promoting energy structure adjustments [4]. - The construction of the national carbon market is a continuously evolving system, requiring a long-term mechanism for carbon emission quota allocation that considers the dual pressures of energy supply and transition in the power industry [4]. - There is a need to enhance data quality management for carbon emissions and strengthen the collaborative mechanisms between the carbon market and the electricity market [4].