Hainan showcases green transformation with near-zero carbon demonstration area

The Boao near-zero carbon demonstration area in Qionghai, South China's Hainan province, completed construction, achieved self-sustaining electricity consumption and began operation on Monday.

A launch ceremony was held on Boao's Dongyu island, the permanent site of the Boao Forum for Asia. It holds promise as a global showcase for China's green and low-carbon development concepts, technology and practices. The demonstration area also aims to inspire tropical regions across the globe to follow suit.

In 2022, Hainan collaborated with the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development to create the near-zero carbon demonstration area, taking the local tropical monsoon marine climate into consideration. The area has transformed through 18 sub-projects from eight categories, including architecture, landscaping and green transportation. The focus on achieving self-sustainability between new energy generation and electricity consumption is a crucial aspect of the initiative.

Green energy technology is integrated into the demonstration area. Rooftop panels, floor tiles and even the curtain wall on the forum's press center are photovoltaic.

According to Hainan Power Grid Co, photovoltaic power can be incorporated into the power grid and directly utilized for various purposes. For instance, the photovoltaic panels on the roof of the New Power System Integration Exhibition System are projected to generate 87,600 KWH of power annually. This saves around 28 tons of standard coal and reduces 87 tons of carbon dioxide.

The Boao near-zero carbon demonstration area has been certified and evaluated by the German Energy Agency and third-party agencies, met the national index requirements to be labeled a near-zero carbon area, and been recognized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the National Energy Administration and relevant departments and industry associations.

Ni Hong, minister of housing and urban-rural development, underscored the significance the achievement. "By distilling successful practices, we can create a blueprint that is easily understandable and adaptable, thereby accelerating the adoption of green and low-carbon practices in urban and rural construction," he said.

With clear benchmarks and guidelines, "we not only can allow for the assessment of results, but also facilitate the sharing of knowledge and good practices on a global scale," he added.

Hainan aims to use the Boao near-zero carbon demonstration area to showcase its dedication to ecological sustainability and set a high bar for global environmental standards.

Feng Fei, secretary of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, said that by striving to benchmark against international first-class standards, the province positions itself as a leader in the global sustainability landscape and hopes to establish a "Boao standard" with global influence.