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ClimateQuiet 44h · day 4

Inside Climate News reveals China's electric grid vents potent greenhouse gas

Massive SF6 emissions from China's power sector dwarf recycling claims, new analysis shows.

newest coverage 1d agosummary written 16h ago6 pieces114 likes & upvotes8 comments MastodonBluesky

What to know

  • SF6, used in electrical equipment, is 24,300 times more potent than CO2 and persists in atmosphere for 1,000 years; China is the largest global emitter.
  • Inside Climate News estimates actual SF6 recycling rate in China at ~30%, contradicting government claims of 90% capacity.
  • Utilities could increase recycling to ~90% for $6 million annually, reducing global SF6 emissions by one-third at minimal cost.
  • SF6 emissions from China nearly doubled from 2011 to 2021 while other countries' emissions declined; remains unregulated in China.

“sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is a synthetic chemical that plays a critical role as an electrical insulator in high-voltage equipment… 24,300 times more effective at warming the planet than carbon dioxide”

Inside Climate News, Investigative outlet · Inside Climate News ↗

Inside Climate News Investigative outletChina's Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) Chinese government agencyState Grid Corporation of China Electric utility companyDeborah Ottinger Former EPA analyst

Inside Climate News reveals China's electric grid vents potent greenhouse gas
insideclimatenews.org

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage posts

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Sep 21Sep 22yesterdaynow · 12:58 AM ET
  1. 1

    Inside Climate News analysis exposes SF6 recycling gap in China's grid

    Inside Climate News publishes investigation revealing China's electric utilities are the world's largest emitters of SF6. While Chinese authorities claim 90% recycling, the analysis estimates actual rate at 30%, with potential to reach 90% at minimal cost and reduce total SF6 emissions by one-third.

    “It's such a three-alarm fire if you are venting that gas to the atmosphere instead of recycling it. It's a very obvious thing that can be implemented immediately.”
    — Deborah Ottinger, former EPA fluorinated greenhouse gas emissions analyst

    1. 1 outlet first by Mastodon, 3d ago · read ↗

    • climatecasino.net

      Your 'moment of doom' for Sept 21, 2026 ~ 25,000 times as potent a GHG as CO2. "More than half of all SF6 emissions worldwide come from China ... While releases of the gas have decreased elsewhere, China’s emissions nearly doubled from 2011 to 2021..."

      climatecasino.netBluesky2d ago103▲view on Bluesky ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 4 posts in this stretch
    • Snoro@mastodon.social

      # China Climate Super-Pollutant from China’s Electric Grid Is Cooking the Planet The nation’s electric utilities release vast quantities of the world’s most potent greenhouse gas. Recycling efforts could slash emissions at little cost, an Inside Climate News analysis reveals https:// insideclimatenews.org/news/200 92026/china-grid-sf6-emissions/ #…

      Snoro@mastodon.socialMastodon3d ago1▲view on Mastodon ↗
    • Akshay@eupolicy.social

      “China’s electric utilities release vast quantities of the world’s most potent greenhouse gas, [SF6]. Recycling efforts could slash emissions at little cost” https:// insideclimatenews.org/news/200 92026/china-grid-sf6-emissions/ # China # Climate # Electricity # Pollution

      Akshay@eupolicy.socialMastodon1d ago1▲view on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  2. background

    Chinese researchers warn SF6 poses environmental threat — Government researchers in China issue warning that sulfur hexafluoride poses a significant potential threat to the global environment.

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