Accelerating the innovation of advanced carbon measurement technology provides strong support for the "dual carbon" strategy

In September 2020, since China formally proposed to the world the strategic goal of "carbon peak, carbon neutral" (hereinafter referred to as "double carbon"), the CPC Central Committee and the State Council have made a series of major decisions and arrangements around the "double carbon" strategy. The "Implementation Plan for Establishing and Improving the Carbon Neutral Standard Measurement System for Carbon Peak" (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan") is one of the guarantee plans for the "1 N" policy system. The core is to accelerate the measurement and standard system that supports the "double carbon" strategic goal. Construction. The "Plan" puts forward 24 key tasks, 5 key projects and 4 actions, and comprehensively deploys the overall promotion of the construction of the "double carbon" standard measurement system. 

The realization of the "double carbon" strategic goal is an extensive and profound change, the core is to control the total amount of carbon emissions and find out the bottom number of carbon emissions, which is an important basis for scientific decision-making, effectiveness evaluation and international negotiations. it is very important for China to achieve the strategic goal of "double carbon. Among them, measurement technology is the underlying driver of the "double carbon" strategy. Measurement technology is directly used in carbon emission measurement, energy measurement, natural resources and environmental monitoring and other fields, through international mutual recognition, consistent measurement standards and measurement methods, to ensure the accuracy and reliability of data. At the same time, measurement technology provides a quantitative basis for the formulation of standards such as carbon emissions, carbon emission reduction, carbon removal and market-oriented mechanisms, is the technical basis for the implementation of inspection and testing, and plays a core function in promoting the coordinated operation of the National Quality Infrastructure (NQI). Adhering to the principle of "technology-driven and technology-led", the Plan comprehensively lays out the construction of the measurement technology system. It is to support the data quality of China's carbon market and national carbon emission inventory through advanced carbon measurement technology, promote the transformation from macro "carbon accounting" to accurate "carbon measurement", meet the international requirement of "1 ton reported is 1 ton emitted", and realize international mutual recognition. 

1. Consolidate Basic Research, Establish and Improve the Traceability System of "Carbon Measurement" 

Perfect value transfer traceability system is the basis to ensure the traceability of measuring instruments, the validity of measurement process and the accuracy and consistency of measurement data. Specifically, it is necessary to strengthen the development of carbon measurement benchmarks, measurement standards and standard substances, and develop high-precision measuring instruments and sensors. In this regard, the United States and Europe are at the forefront of the world. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Future Act, signed by President Biden in August 2022, authorizes NIST to develop tools and standards to accurately measure greenhouse gas emissions. NIST has developed standard substances such as crude oil, aqueous methanol, and carbon dioxide in nitrogen in the field of fossil and alternative fuels and primary gas mixtures. The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is currently developing low-cost environmental sensors to build large-scale sensor networks to obtain dense monitoring data in real time. NPL cooperates with the Chinese Institute of Metrology (NIM) to carry out mobile differential absorption lidar (DIAL) technology research to solve the problem of accurate measurement and measurement traceability of the spatial and temporal distribution of greenhouse gases and atmospheric pollutants in open space, and to achieve high-precision measurement of emissions from dispersed pollution sources. Therefore, the Plan clearly proposes to establish and improve the carbon measurement benchmark, measurement standard and standard material system, carry out the development of carbon measurement core devices and high-precision instruments, and provide hardware support for the realization of the "double carbon" strategic goal. 

2. focuses on cutting-edge innovation to overcome the key technical problems of "carbon metering" 

Green low-carbon key common measurement technology covers from emission factors, measurement methods to measurement uncertainty, widely used in the industry, can solve the key common problems of energy conservation and emission reduction, is the "common number" to achieve the strategic goal of "double carbon". In recent years, the United States and Europe have begun to attach importance to the accuracy of carbon data, and gradually adopt the method of combining direct measurement and indirect accounting. For example, the EU has equipped all large thermal power plants and some small units in Europe with CO2 concentration measuring devices and flue gas flow meters to directly measure greenhouse gases. According to the mandatory greenhouse gas emission reporting regulations of the United States, all emission sources with annual emissions of more than 25000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent must install continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMs) and report the data online to the US Environmental Protection Agency. The UK Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) regularly conducts external validation of carbon emission inventories through a combination of atmospheric measurements and inversion models to identify and reduce accounting errors in a timely manner. NPL is currently developing measurement uncertainty assessment methods for global atmospheric monitoring networks to enhance the traceability of monitoring activities. Therefore, the Program proposes to carry out carbon measurement, carbon emission factor, carbon emission monitoring, carbon emission measurement uncertainty and other key common measurement technology research, to overcome the key common measurement problems. 

3. seize the opportunity of digitalization and promote the digital transformation of "carbon metering" 

Digitalization is a major development trend. The digital transformation of carbon metering is related to the overall situation of the development of digital economy. With the deepening of digital transformation in various industries, online, dynamic, remote and virtual operation scenarios are becoming more and more normal in the industry. New measurement scenarios and parameters are emerging, accompanied by the demand for new measuring instruments. At the same time, data has become the core element of digital transformation, playing a key role in intelligent monitoring, inversion, early warning and decision-making of carbon emissions, and the reference data of carbon measurement standards can be used as "digital measurement standards" to directly serve the industry, avoiding repetitive measurements and reducing losses caused by inaccurate measurement results. The United States occupies a monopoly position in global standard reference data. In terms of serving low carbon, NIST has established standard reference databases such as hydrocarbon spectrum database, hydrocarbon thermophysical properties database, carbon dioxide photoionization parameter database, combustion calorimetry tool library, etc., to provide authoritative data reference for global low carbon action. The plan makes arrangements for the digital transformation of carbon metering, emphasizes the promotion of intelligent, digital and network transformation and upgrading of relevant measuring instruments, establishes a reference database of carbon metering standards, and comprehensively helps to realize the strategic goal of "double carbon" in the digital era. 

4. strengthen the field of application, to achieve accurate "carbon measurement" in key industries" 

Metrology is the foundation to achieve the strategic goal of "double carbon". Integrating the innovation of measurement technology into the process of industrial low-carbon transformation will inject long-term power into the strategic goal of "double carbon" in China. The "Plan" adheres to the principle of "consolidating the foundation and improving the system", focusing on key industries and fields, establishing and improving the "double carbon" measurement technology system, and achieving key breakthroughs and overall improvement of low-carbon standards in various industries. 

By carrying out research and application of carbon measurement technology in key industries and fields, improving the accuracy and consistency of carbon emissions and monitoring data, maintaining the fairness and stability of the carbon emissions trading market, and injecting effective new momentum into the low-carbon transformation of the industry, it is the mission and opportunity for measurement to help the transformation and upgrading of the industry under the new situation. Internationally, the "Enterprise Carbon Accounting and Reporting Standard" under the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) mainly puts forward unified requirements for the way enterprises in different industries calculate greenhouse gases, reporting responsibilities, carbon emission verification, emission reduction accounting, target setting, inventory design, etc. The U.S. power industry carbon trading market uses flue flow data and flue greenhouse gas concentration data to directly measure the emission end. The EU carbon emissions trading system has made a lot of efforts for the monitoring of corporate carbon emissions. After years of development and improvement, it has become the most complete carbon trading market in the world, and it has clarified the requirements of data accuracy in carbon verification. The EU carbon trading market is a parallel way of fuel-end accounting and direct emission-end measurement, and promotes the formation of an internal market for verification and certification services through the establishment of a unified "measurable, reportable and verifiable" (MRV) system. Therefore, the Plan proposes to carry out research on carbon emission measurement and testing methods and monitoring and measurement technologies for energy-using facilities and systems in key industries and fields, to improve the accuracy and consistency of carbon emissions and monitoring data, and to explore and promote accurate "carbon measurement" in qualified industries ". 

5. suggestions for the next step 

First, establish a carbon emission statistical monitoring and accounting reporting system that combines direct measurement and indirect accounting as soon as possible. Promote the combination of direct measurement and indirect accounting in key industries, and select typical regions and representative enterprises for pilot projects. Formulate national standards for accounting reporting, promote the use of direct measurement to verify indirect accounting data, put forward clear requirements for key high-energy-consuming and high-emission enterprises, ensure the integrity, accuracy and consistency of carbon emission data, and strongly support scientific decision-making and international negotiations. At the same time, increase the research and development and application of advanced carbon metering technology, implement special funding for the research and development and application of advanced carbon metering technology and high-end carbon measuring instruments, and strive to achieve independent control of core technologies and high-end instruments, and improve statistical monitoring capabilities. 

Second, give full play to the role of national strategic scientific and technological forces to provide advanced measurement technology support for the "double carbon" strategy. To speed up the construction of a standard measurement system supporting the "double carbon" strategy, we need to give full play to the advantages of China's new national system and the core leading role of the main force of national strategic scientific and technological forces. China Institute of Metrology (NIM), as China's national metrology organization, is responsible for the development and application of advanced carbon measurement technology. The establishment of the national carbon scale, the construction of the carbon trading market, the preparation of the national carbon emission inventory and the future response to carbon tariffs and other specific work should actively absorb more carbon measurement technical forces to participate in it, give full play to the guarantee role of measurement "weights and measures", and enhance my country's carbon data The credibility of the country provides strong measurement technology support for the realization of the "double carbon" strategy. 

Third, improve the national standard of "carbon measurement" and enhance the voice of international standards. To formulate national standards for accounting reports based on direct measurement, it is necessary to achieve the unification of measurement and accounting methodologies at the national standard level, and to complete the international mutual recognition and integration of the accuracy of carbon data. By leading or actively participating in the international comparison of carbon data measurement between countries, supported by the internationally recognized carbon emission data measurement system, we will promote the integration with the international carbon market and actively safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises. Participate in the formulation and revision of international standards in related fields, undertake the technical work of the International Organization for Standardization, and take the lead in the formulation of international standards. Strengthen regional standardization cooperation, integrate into the international energy efficiency and carbon emission standards and rules system, and strengthen the coordination of international standards. Accelerate the transformation of advanced and applicable international standards such as carbon footprint and carbon accounting, promote integration with the international carbon market, and enhance negotiation capabilities. 

Fourth, co-ordinate the collaborative development of NQI to release the maximum efficiency of the whole chain application. At the top-level design level, the implementation path of NQI to support the "double carbon" goal is systematically studied, and the synchronous promotion, collaborative construction and integrated development are carried out. At the level of institutional mechanisms, we will study and establish a linkage mechanism of "measurement of scientific and technological innovation-formulation of technical standards-implementation of certification and accreditation-demonstration and application-post-supervision and evaluation" to support the goal of "double carbon", so as to fully release the maximum efficiency. At the level of construction and implementation, relying on key projects and actions, we explore the basic theory of NQI element integration development and efficiency evaluation, and innovate the working mechanism of multi-factor collaborative construction supported by single element. Research and promote the reconstruction path of quality basic capacity in key areas and industries, and comprehensively consolidate the quality basic capacity to support the "double carbon" strategic goal. 

Information source: State Administration for Market Regulation