Oct. 15 – One is the Italian largest electricity company and Europe ‘s second listed utility company by installed capacity, the other is one of the five largest power companies in China: together, they can do a lot for the environment. Enel Group and the Chinese China Huaneng Group (Chng) decided to sign a memorandum of understanding in Beijing aimed at strengthening cooperation in the field of clean energy, in particular: clean coal technologies, purification of combustion fumes, improved efficiency and performance, reducing the carbon footprint of coal plants, renewable energy and distribution. “Within the framework of the Memorandum – said the Italian group in a statement – Enel will contribute mainly in the following areas: purification of combustion fumes, carbon capture and storage, analysis of pilot projects for innovative and environmentally sustainable distribution technologies in urban areas, renewable energy generation and the implementation of a regulatory framework to promote pilot projects for the assignment and exchange of emission allowances (‘cap and trade’) in China.” The memorandum, signed by Livio Vido – Director of the Engineering Division and Research at the Enel Group and Hu Jianmin – vice president for Chng, is the result of joint efforts from the respective Engineering, Research, Innovation and Carbon Strategy divisions. The framework for the commitment is the cooperation program between Enel, the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology and the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea, launched in 2008 to give impetus to the use of environmentally sustainable technologies in energy production. More specifically, the memorandum follows the 2012 Memorandum of Understanding between Enel and the Chng Clean Energy Research Institute, with which research in clean coal, renewable energy and distributed generation is already carried out.
