Green Electricity is electricity produced from
renewable resources such as wind, solar, small hydro, biomass, wave, tidal
and geothermal. Generating electricity from renewable resources produces
little or no harmful pollutants to air, water and land. Green electricity
contributes to “greening” the energy sector by shifting towards a more
sustainable and environmental friendly generation of electricity. This is
why electricity from renewable resources is called green.
Participation in the Shanghai Green
Electricity Scheme helps to： 1) Reduce CO2 emissions to meet the
environment management and ISO 14000 certification system standards; 2)
Show the public (customers, investors, suppliers) that you care about the
environment and Shanghai and are a responsible entrepreneur; 3) Show
your contribution to implementing Agenda 21 and meeting sustainable
development targets; 4) Develop the renewable energy and energy
conservation industry in Shanghai which will create employment and local
economic development; 5) Improve the air quality in Shanghai.
The Shanghai Green Electricity Scheme offers electricity consumers in
Shanghai the opportunity to “green” their electricity consumption by buying
some amount of green electricity for which a premium needs to be paid. The
scheme was developed with the support of the Municipal Government, the
electric power company and consumers. Through participation Shanghai
citizens can directly contribute to improving the environment in Shanghai
and to building a sustainable future for their children. The Municipal
Government guarantees that the additional payment for Green Electricity will
be used to develop additional renewable electricity generating capacity in
the Shanghai Municipality such as wind farms. Participants will be awarded a
certificate of participation as a proof of participation and to show that
they care about the environment in Shanghai. To maintain trust in the scheme
a transparent mechanism has been developed to verify and certify that all
green electricity sold has actually been produced. This will be done by an
independent supervising body by auditing the green electricity accounts and
by publishing the audit results. From this, consumers can be sure that no
more green electricity is sold than produced and that the additional payment
is used for developing renewable electricity generation capacity.
Development of the Green Electricity Scheme for
Shanghai was made by the financial and technical support provided by the
World Bank Asia Alternative Energy Program (ASTAE). Other support was
provided by ESMAP, WWF, EF, and Shanghai Economic Commission. World Bank
ASTAE program funded the set-up and maintenance of the internet site.
