Tianjin turns hub for green electricity trade

Surging renewable energy transactions in port city hit 40 percent

People watch gulls from an embankment in front of offshore windmills in Binhai New Area of Tianjin. JIA JIYE/FOR CHINA DAILY

Editor's note: As protection of the planet's flora, fauna and resources becomes increasingly important, China Daily is publishing a series of stories to illustrate the country's commitment to safeguarding the natural world.

Since the launch of the national green electricity trading market in 2021, Tianjin, a port city in northern China, has seen its trade in renewable energy skyrocket from 12 million kilowatt-hours in 2021 to 17.3 billion kWh for this year. The remarkable growth has led to a dramatic cut in carbon dioxide emissions as well as toxic and harmful substances such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.

State Grid Tianjin Electric Power Co, a subsidiary of national electricity provider State Grid, estimates the reduction is the equivalent of the amount of CO2 absorbed by 767 million trees for a whole year.

The national green electricity trading market facilitates transactions for both physical green electricity and related green electricity certificates so that large-scale users, such as manufacturers and data centers, can purchase their energy and ensure that it comes from a renewable source.