BEIJING, May 31 -- Beijing will not impose compulsory brownouts or power-downs for factories this summer despite a predicted energy shortage, a senior city official said yesterday. , Y" Q0 T. B" g, D9 ] ) l# m5 C9 g# ]- B; T) I "Peak power consumption is expected to top 12.2 million kilowatts, or 14.6 per cent higher than last year," said Zhang Gong, vice-director of the Beijing Development and Reform Commission. 8 x$ y E8 E1 i) P0 v1 w/ l1 Z& K
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Speaking at a press conference Zhang said the electricity shortage during peak periods this summer could reach 5 million kilowatts, or even 7.3 million kilowatts in some parts of the capital. * ~, G1 Z$ X* ^( `/ p
1 @2 N* {1 d8 ^. a( [) S8 d Limited power generation, slow grid construction, a rapid increase in consumption, skyrocketing prices for coal and hydro-electric power and uncertain weather will create a sharp contradiction between demand and supply, Zhang warned. ( h V; X+ f9 f9 K4 V! \- Z2 P5 h" |; ~
) X& `* S& P, p To deal with the shortage, Beijing's local government will shift from administrative control measures to a long-term technology-oriented plan, said the official. 7 L2 }% `! J7 K
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"Beijing's grid is a typical power recipient, which means two-thirds of its electricity comes from other provinces," said Chen Tiecheng, a commission official in charge of power and coal management. + @7 I; z0 _% @7 l% e1 V, ^6 Z+ o
. Y4 V( O+ F" h% g, p Li Tongzhi, vice-general manager of the Beijing Electric Power Company, told reporters that the city has invested 1.53 billion yuan (US$189 million) in upgrading the capital's grid so far this year. , H5 K& W$ Q% p& }8 W @6 U, X1 [! w+ z: L( a/ q
Beijing also use pricing leverage to try to level consumption, said Zhang, adding that factories would be encouraged operate outside peak power-usage hours. " h& E% x* W4 l. k/ o8 ~+ |. j
& g/ [- R& i g: _: c At peak hours, power costs 1.1 yuan (US$0.14) per kilowatt-hour, versus a lowest off-peak price of 0.26 yuan (US$0.03). * P% s. M& M) H! v: \: U; b2 y E. g' L/ d' @
"Such measures have greatly reduced the power consumption load in the city over the past two years," said Zhang, adding that a compensation system would be adopted for firms which voluntary adjust their consumption. 8 y1 h0 Z/ A$ v' J2 D! V2 O* {9 h2 ^# |- x
Other measures will include differential seasonal power prices, raising the temperature of air conditioners, and installing ice air conditioners which stockpile ice during non-peak hours. Q3 m I6 W% S: ^, t" N+ Z, f# b/ W% }! w* b A, U& \+ J
Schools, hospitals and government and military units will adopt differential seasonal power prices next year to conserve electricity, said the official. 7 d/ [/ _7 l7 W0 R6 @- r; M! o) M9 X' `9 Y; D* ]' X
"Air conditioners in government offices should be kept at 26 C at the minimum," said Chen. 2 E4 F( k) \7 Q0 i' u( }; G- D/ i, }% R, x$ \" I3 |
"Through this, hundreds of thousands of kilowatts-hours of the peak hour power consumption load can be saved." 8 g Y2 E2 w8 ?. t: ?6 ~
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The municipal government will map out compulsory standards that request every new building whose refrigeration area surpasses 30,000 square metres to install ice air conditioners, added Zhang. - Q- f( T# E6 K* k# _" i6 q( U/ O u' L/ ~( X. ] a% o( a5 n2 Y
At present there are 51 ice air conditioners in Beijing. There are expected to be 78 by the end of the year, saving 50,000 kilowatts-hours of power consumption during peak times. 3 X3 Z- Y0 Q5 a5 d# m: w! h2 \+ b$ I+ a+ p! I) Q" G+ `# {$ T
(Source: China Daily)-%-13189-%--%-13585-%-