(File photo)

A reporter from Beijing Daily learned from the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau on June 14 that Beijing has issued measures to improve and subsidize gas boilers.

Gas boilers that are able to reduce emission of nitrogen by 50 percent will receive government subsidies to cover one third of the improvement cost. The boiler emissions standard of Beijing will be stricter than standard currently observed in Europe by the year 2017.

Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau introduced that nitrogen oxides are important precursors of Beijing's PM2.5 and "raw material" of ozone pollution during summer months.

Since in 1998, Beijing adopted the first stage pollution control measures, so far the sulfur dioxide has reduced by 89 percent; however, the nitrogen dioxide only has reduced by 32 percent. In 2015, the average concentration of nitrogen dioxide was 50 microgram per cubic meter, higher than the national standard of 40 microgram per cubic meter. 

Statistics show that currently, Beijing has over 10,000 gas boilers with an emission capacity of over 50,000 steam tons. If all the boilers are improved, it's estimated nearly 10,000 tons of nitrogen oxides emission would be reduced. A pollution control measure of this scale could significantly improve Beijing's air quality.

According to the new "Boiler air pollutant release standard", since April 1, 2017, newly constructed boilers should abide by newly adopted emission limit standard of 30 micrograms per cubic meter. Active boilers still found within the high-polluted fuel forbidden area will be asked to set emission limits of 80 micrograms per cubic meter. This standard has been stricter than the boiler emissions standards found in Europe and near the world’s strictest boiler emissions standard located in South California in the U.S.