The China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group (CECEP) has made significant progress in exploring the value of ecological products through its research and practical applications.
By focusing on the mechanisms for realizing the value of ecological products, CECEP is actively pursuing effective paths for “ecological industrialization” and “industrial ecologicalization”. These efforts aim to promote high-quality development along the Yangtze River Economic Belt and enhance ecological protection and green development in the Yellow River Basin.
Harnessing ecological product value through environmental management
Leveraging its self-developed technologies, CECEP has pioneered a series of “Ecological Environmental Restoration and Governance +” industrial models, integrating protection and development to create an ecological product industry. This includes technologies for watershed and lake ecological restoration, comprehensive treatment of polluted water bodies, slope restoration seed packages, and soil remediation agents for heavy metal pollution. These technologies have been applied in various projects.
In Changxing, Zhejiang province, CECEP has developed the nation’s first intelligent agriculture demonstration project that combines farming and fishing with photovoltaic power. This project not only improves local water quality but also enhances land utilization, with an estimated ecological product value of 2.3 billion yuan ($0.32 billion) throughout its lifecycle.
In regions such as Bijie in Guizhou and Jiayu county in Xianning, Hubei, CECEP has implemented a model that integrates solid waste treatment, ecological improvement, and green agriculture. The model promotes the comprehensive utilization of urban and rural solid waste, transforming organic waste into fertilizers and feed, which are then used to cultivate high-quality vegetables and livestock. The company also explores mutually beneficial collaborations with organic fruit and vegetable growers to promote products and convert ecological products into value through resource recycling.
In Changzhou, CECEP has constructed a smart energy station within the High-Speed Rail New Town, using water from a nearby sewage treatment plant and the Zaojiang River as the main sources for heat pumps. This project, which employs dynamic two-phase energy storage technology, provides centralized heating and cooling services to over five million square meters of buildings, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 80,000 tons annually.
Developing ecological product value
CECEP is increasing its investment in ecological and environmental infrastructure, facilitating the transformation of lucid waters and lush mountains into invaluable assets.
In the Wuling Mountains of Guizhou, CECEP has implemented a comprehensive protection and restoration project that integrates mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts. Centered on biodiversity conservation, the project targets an ecological pattern focused on the Fanjing Mountain World Natural Heritage Site, four ecological corridors and five national nature reserves. The project involves six major categories and 24 sub-projects, with an investment, exceeding five billion yuan ($0.69 billion).
CECEP is also contributing to the construction of green energy systems by developing numerous photovoltaic power generation, agriculture, and desertification control projects. For instance, in Inner Mongolia, CECEP has promoted a model that integrates renewable energy development with ecological agriculture and tourism. In places like Yinchuan and Ningxia, the company offers energy services based on principles of energy cascade utilization, multi-energy complementary synergy, and optimal energy configuration across multiple industries.
Moreover, CECEP has advanced the development of ecological industries by cultivating natural, green, and distinctive ecological products. The company has established several raw material bases, significantly boosting income for local communities and supporting rural revitalization.
Realizing ecological product value in rural development
To lead rural development, CECEP has creatively constructed a value chain that spans planting, harvesting, initial processing, research and development, production, branding, and distribution through franchise stores and e-commerce platforms. This approach effectively drives income growth for farmers, supports the development of raw material suppliers, fosters innovation in research institutions, and encourages entrepreneurship among individual merchants, promoting the collective development of the entire industry chain.
Over the past decade, CECEP has actively guided farmers, individual businesses, and township enterprises in raw material-producing areas to protect or cultivate ecological resources. The company has preserved over 280,000 acres of forest land, with an average annual protection of 28,000 acres, generating more than 2 billion yuan ($0.28 billion) in revenue for local farmers, individual businesses, and township enterprises.
Additionally, CECEP has partnered with financial institutions to innovate and develop a new model that transforms the abundant ecological resources in rural areas into valuable capital for wealth creation, broadening income channels for farmers, enhancing the benefits of rural ecological products, and promoting coordinated urban-rural development for common prosperity.
