According to the International Copper Association, Air-source heat pump to replace coal-fired boiler will greatly reduce smog pollution in Chinese cities , Will also stimulate further copper demand growth.
A recent survey by Brilliance Consulting in Shanghai shows that copper-intensive products and technologies such as air-source heat pumps can have a positive environmental impact, with more than 15 in Beijing alone in 2016, supported by the Chinese government Air-source heat pumps have been installed by 10,000 households to replace coal-fired boilers, and air-source heat pumps account for 76% of the total households covered by the coal-to-electricity program in Beijing.A typical air source heat pump uses about 20kg of copper Copper is mainly used in heat exchangers, fan motors, compressors, valves and fittings; the copper requirement for outdoor evaporators is 6 kg and the indoor condensers require about 5 kg of copper. The installation of air source heat pump heating systems requires a rural grid Upgrade, increase electricity load, resulting in investment in power grid also brought further copper consumption increased.
Reducing coal combustion can reduce emissions of large amounts of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and other volatile organic compounds, which are particularly important in cities like Beijing, where haze pollution continues to occur. According to the survey, an average of 3.3 tons of coal can be reduced for every household installing a heat pump heating system.
The survey shows that 12 major cities in northern China will spend 200 billion yuan to promote clean energy in the next three years. In Beijing, for example, the Chinese government subsidies 24,000 yuan for each air source unit, Need to pay the remaining 2,000 yuan on it.
Colin Bennett of the International Copper Institute's Market Analysis and Development Division said that the installation of an air-source heat pump was one of the most important directions for the coal-to-electricity program:For copper metal, the shift from traditional energy to clean energy presents a significant opportunity for copper demand. '
The International Copper Association will share more information on the coal-to-electricity project and its impact on copper demand at the 13th Asian Copper Summit to be held on November 30th.
Founded in 1989 in New York, the International Copper Association (IAC) is a not-for-profit international organization dedicated to researching and promoting the social value of copper and its effective use as a contribution to the national economy and the green development of industries and the improvement of the quality of human life The International Copper Association (IAC) entered China in 1995 and is the first international organization to assist the Chinese government in planning and implementing sustainable economic development. Currently, the International Copper Association has more than 40 members, including most of the world's copper mining enterprises, Plant and the world's leading copper and copper alloy processing enterprises.
Over the past two decades or so, the association has done a great deal of work in such areas as sustainable development, including: the first , Promotion of energy-saving transformers, high efficiency motors, high efficiency air conditioning, energy-saving water heaters; second , Promote the application of renewable energy including wind power generation, photovoltaic power generation, air source heat pump and solar thermal utilization; third , Develop and promote new technologies, reduce the cost of the industrial chain, and promote the application of resource reduction, including cast bronze rotor motors and small diameter air conditioning heat exchangers; fourth , Research and promote applied sciences and tools in the areas of health, environment and sustainable development.