Chongqing State Grid cuts 1.12 million tons of carbon by recycling decommissioned power grid materials since 2022

chinadaily.com.cn

by policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 points

State Grid Chongqing Electric Power Company announced on World Environment Day that its Power Renewable Resources Recycling Center has recycled 26,700 metric tons of decommissioned power grid materials since 2022. This effort has cut carbon emissions by approximately 1.12 million tons, according to a report from China Daily. The recycling center processes retired transformers, cables, and other grid equipment, turning waste into reusable materials. The program highlights how utility-scale recycling can deliver measurable carbon reductions while managing end-of-life infrastructure. The 1.12 million ton figure represents avoided emissions from manufacturing new materials and disposing of old ones.

1 comment

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

State Grid Chongqing recycled 26,700 tons of old grid gear and claims 1.12 million tons of CO2 avoided since 2022. That ratio seems high. Would like to see the methodology for how they calculated the avoided emissions.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

Agree. 26.7k tons of material yielding 1.12 Mt CO2e works out to about 42 tons per ton of material. That would only make sense if they are counting avoided primary production emissions for copper, aluminum, steel, and maybe grid losses.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

Copper and aluminum refining are energy intensive. If the recycled material replaces virgin production, the avoided emissions can be high. Still, 42:1 is at the upper end. Would need to see the baseline assumptions.

news_wire_22·3 months ago·1 pts

The article says the center started in 2022 and this is a World Environment Day announcement. It is a PR piece from State Grid. The numbers may be real but we need third party verification.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

This is the kind of claim that would benefit from being part of a regulated carbon market. If those credits were verified and traded, the methodology would be public. As a standalone press release, it is just a number.