China has a smog problem and resolving it while reducing the country’s carbon footprint was a major theme of Messe Frankfurt’s recent ISH China show at the New China International Exhibition Center in Beijing.

Held concurrently with ISH China was the inaugural Clean Energy Heating Summit, designed to accelerate China’s move away from burning coal for heat to cleaner electricity and natural gas in order to clear up its legendary smog problem and reduce the country’s carbon footprint. The three-day event welcomed 1,300 international exhibitors — including some familiar names — and 55,000 attendees from around the world to the show’s 1.1 million square feet of exhibit space.

Energy efficiency and emissions reduction continue to be important environmental goals for China. With the country’s growing demand for clean energies, the market for green heating solutions is expected to steadily increase due to implementation of strict environmental policies and regulations.

China’s President Xi JinPing showed high levels of concern with the country’s air pollution problems and stressed the necessity of clean energy heating at the 14th Leading Group for Financial and Economic Affairs meeting. Xi also ordered the immediate effect of the “coal-to-electricity” and “coal-to-natural gas” policies to accelerate China’s clean energy heating reforms. Echoing the president’s environmental incentives, Chinese premier Li KeQiang also urged the importance of increasing ecological environment protection and management efforts at the fifth session of the 12th National People’s Congress. With these combined national initiatives, the Chinese government is determined to eliminate all existing coal combustion and other heat generation units in 3 million families’ homes and replacing it with direct electric or gas heating.

To support the growing demand for new energy and energy-efficient solutions and products, Halls E1, E2 and E4 of the event were dedicated to boilers. Familiar brands on display included A. O. Smith, Hansa, KD Navien, Kiturami, Rinnai, ROC, Sanpaula, Shunmeng, SIME, SMS, Solerad, Grundfos and others. In addition, halls W3 and W4 housed prominent air-source heat-pump suppliers, including familiar names such as Airpower, GREE, Haers, Highly Realnen, Low-Carbon, Macon, Macro and others.

ISH China’s latest show at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre took place earlier this month.

This article was originally title “Time to clear the air” in the September 2017 print edition of Supply House Times.