Environmental initiatives pay dividends for businesses big and small

Through comprehensive analysis of carbon emissions across the product life cycle — from raw materials to manufacturing and transportation — the analysis pinpointed key areas for reduction and provided an internationally recognized carbon footprint evaluation report.

"It strengthens competitiveness in complying with international trade standards like the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and has won favor among overseas clients," said a senior consultant at State Grid Tianjin.

The company also custom-designed a transformation plan, incorporating artificial intelligence-based smart temperature control strategies and optimized airflow management. Preliminary estimates indicate that implementing the plan could save over a million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually — equivalent to reducing carbon emissions by about a thousand tons — while significantly cutting operational costs.

"Our partnership with Tianjin Port revolves around the aim of achieving a zero-carbon port zone, which truly reflects the capabilities of our service platform," said Shan Dapeng, manager of the Dual Carbon Operation Management Branch of State Grid Tianjin.

At the Dongjiang Port Zone, based on economic assessments, State Grid Tianjin Electric Power Co proposed installing sensor devices — integrating visual AI, 3D laser scanning, and Beidou positioning technology — on cranes.

After the upgrades, the port's energy control center could display real-time operation states, energy usage, and over 10 other critical metrics. It also offered automated energy warnings and optimization suggestions via intelligent analysis.

Performance data revealed that after implementing these systems, the port zone achieved significant improvements in operational efficiency, surpassing 20 lifting cycles per hour, with equipment energy consumption reduced by more than 20 percent.

Since April, with the support of State Grid Tianjin in equipment upgrades, carbon emission profiling, and data recalculations, Dongjiang Port's cargo transport for exports saw a carbon reduction of over 10 percent.

"We have achieved near-zero emissions in green electricity supplies and energy-efficient equipment transitions. Goods transported from Dongjiang Port to European markets now meet elevated environmental standards, gaining recognition in Europe's eco-conscious markets," said Wang Bao, Party secretary of Tianjin Port Electric Power Co.

The service platform is itself a model of green, low-carbon construction. Built by the China Railway Construction Engineering Group, the project adopted remote visual monitoring and smart operational management systems during its construction phase to optimize energy consumption. Energy-saving efficiency exceeded 10 percent, with an estimated annual electricity saving of 100,000 kWh.

Additionally, innovative solutions such as a 100-kW rooftop solar and wind power system were used, enabling self-sufficient energy during both construction and operation phases. Intelligent air conditioning systems running on air-source heat pumps were used in server rooms, while winter heating relied on a coordinated system incorporating heat pumps, energy storage tanks, and electric water heaters — storing heat during off-peak hours and releasing it during peak periods.

Gao Jun, a manager from China Railway Construction Engineering in charge of the project, said: "By integrating energy-saving systems such as new energy sources, the total building energy consumption was reduced by nearly 75 percent compared to traditional construction methods. It created the Tianjin Electric Power Dual-Carbon Center project, setting a benchmark for green, low-carbon, smart and modern environmentally friendly buildings."

Tianjin's pioneering practices, spanning small enterprises to large port operators, echo the global momentum for green transformation.

The Green Smart Energy Organization, a global nonprofit launched by former United Nations deputy secretary-general and others, aims to accelerate clean energy transitions and foster innovation in smart energy development.

"We are actively embracing the global green transition, participating in initiatives, supporting the construction of green smart supply chains, and driving the green low-carbon transformation of power grids, while promoting international collaborations for industrial enterprises," Shan from State Grid Tianjin said.

Wang Xiaojing contributed to this story.

yandongjie@chinadaily.com.cn