Energy policy of China
China is both the world's largest energy consumer and the largest industrial country, and ensuring adequate energy supply to sustain economic growth has been a core concern of the Chinese Government since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.<ref name=":0">Andrews-Speed, Philip (November 2014). "China's Energy Policymaking Processes and Their Consequences". The National Bureau of Asian Research Energy Security Report. Retrieved December 5, 2014.</ref> Since the country's industrialization in the 1960s, China is currently the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, and coal in China is a major cause of global warming.<ref>McGrath, Matt (November 20, 2019). "China coal surge threatens Paris climate targets". Retrieved December 9, 2019.</ref> However, from 2010 to 2015 China reduced energy consumption per unit of GDP by 18%, and CO2 emissions per unit of GDP by 20%.<ref name="diplomat-20160806">Ma Tianjie (August 6, 2016). "China's 5 Year Plan for Energy". The Diplomat. Retrieved October 30, 2016.</ref> On a per-capita basis, China was only the world's 51st largest emitter of greenhouse gases in 2016.<ref name=worldbank-co2percapita/> China is also the world's largest renewable energy producer (see this article),<ref name="guardian08-08-01" /> and the largest producer of hydroelectricity, solar power and wind power in the world. The energy policy of China is connected to its industrial policy, where the goals of China's industrial production dictate its energy demand managements.<ref>Rosen, Daniel; Houser, Trevor (May 2007). "China Energy A Guide for the Perplexed" (PDF). piie.com. Retrieved April 25, 2020.</ref>
Being a country that depends heavily on foreign petroleum import for both domestic consumption and as raw materials for light industry manufacturing, electrification is a huge component of the Chinese national energy policy. Details for the power sector are likely to be released winter 2021/22 for the 14th five-year plan,<ref>"Analysis: Will China build hundreds of new coal plants in the 2020s?". Carbon Brief. March 24, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.</ref> and this is expected to determine whether the country builds more coal-fired power stations, and therefore whether global climate targets are likely to be met.<ref>"Guest post: Why would anyone finance another coal power plant in China?". Carbon Brief. September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.</ref>
Summary
.png)
| Population (million) |
Primary energy TWh |
Production TWh |
Import TWh |
Electricity TWh |
CO2 emissions Mt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1,296 | 18,717 | 17,873 | 1,051 | 2,055 | 4,732 |
| 2007 | 1,320 | 22,746 | 21,097 | 1,939 | 3,073 | 6,028 |
| 2008 | 1,326 | 24,614 | 23,182 | 2,148 | 3,252 | 6,508 |
| 2009 | 1,331 | 26,250 | 24,248 | 3,197 | 3,503 | 6,832 |
| 2010 | 1,338 | 28,111 | 25,690 | 3,905 | 3,938 | 7,270 |
| Change 2004–10 | 3.3% | 50% | 44% | 272% | 92% | 54% |
| Mtoe = 11.63 TWh, excludes Hong Kong. | ||||||
Environment and carbon emissions
 | This section needs to be updated. (September 2020) |
Between 1980 and 2000, China's emissions density (its ratio of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions to gross domestic product) declined sharply.<ref name=":32" />: 26 The country quadrupled its GDP while only doubling the energy it consumed.<ref name=":32" />: 26 No other country at a similar stage of industrial development has matched this achievement.<ref name=":32" />: 26
On June 19, 2007, the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency announced that a preliminary study had indicated that China's greenhouse gas emissions for 2006 had exceeded those of the United States for the first time. The agency calculated that China's CO2 emissions from fossil fuels increased by 9% in 2006, while those of the United States fell by 1.4%, compared to 2005.<ref>"China now no. 1 in CO2 emissions; USA in second position". Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. June 19, 2007. Retrieved July 20, 2007.</ref> The study used energy and cement production data from British Petroleum which they believed to be 'reasonably accurate', while warning that statistics for rapidly changing economies such as China are less reliable than data on OECD countries.<ref name="NEAA070619b">"China now no. 1 in CO2 emissions; USA in second position: more info". Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. June 19, 2007. Archived from the original on July 1, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-20.</ref>
The Initial National Communication on Climate Change of the People's Republic of China calculated that carbon dioxide emissions in 2004 had risen to approximately 5.05 billion metric tons, with total greenhouse gas emissions reaching about 6.1 billion metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent.<ref>"Current greenhouse gas emissions in China". Xinhua News Agency. June 4, 2007. Archived from the original on March 15, 2008. Retrieved June 4, 2007.</ref>
In 2002, China ranked 2nd (after the United States) in the list of countries by carbon dioxide emissions, with emissions of 3.3 billion metric tons, representing 14.5% of the world total.<ref>Data source Dioxyde de carbone (CO2), émissions en mille tonnes de CO2 (CDIAC) Archived March 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, United Nations. Retrieved 2005-04-09.</ref> In 2006, China overtook the US, producing 8% more emissions than the US to become the world's largest emitter of CO2 emissions.<ref>"China now no. 1 in CO2 emissions; USA in second position - PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency". Archived from the original on December 11, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2011.</ref> However per capita China was ranked 51st in CO2 emissions per capita in 2016, with emissions of 7.2 tonnes per person (compared to 15.5 tonnes per person in the United States).<ref name=worldbank-co2percapita>"DataBank – CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita)". The World Bank. Retrieved August 10, 2020.</ref> In addition, it has been estimated that around a third of China's carbon emissions in 2005 were due to manufacturing exported goods.<ref>Catherine Brahic (July 29, 2008). "33% of China's Carbon Footprint Blamed on Exports". ABC News. Retrieved July 29, 2008.</ref>
Energy use and carbon emissions by sector
In the industrial sector, six industries – electricity generation, steel, non-ferrous metals, construction materials, oil processing and chemicals – account for nearly 70% of energy use.<ref name="X-EnergyEfficiency07-06-03"/>
In the construction materials sector, China produced about 44% of the world's cement in 2006.<ref name="NEAA070619b"/> Cement production produces more carbon emissions than any other industrial process, accounting for around 4% of global carbon emissions.<ref name="NEAA070619b"/>
National Action Plan on Climate Change
China has been taking action on climate change for some years, with the publication on June 4, 2007, of China's first National Action Plan on Climate Change,<ref name=":0" /> and in that year China became the first developing country to publish a national strategy addressing global warming.<ref name="X-NAP">China issues first national plan to address climate change, Xinhua News Agency, June 4, 2007, archived from the original on June 7, 2007, retrieved June 4, 2007</ref> The plan did not include targets for carbon dioxide emission reductions, but it has been estimated that, if fully implemented, China's annual emissions of greenhouse gases would be reduced by 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2010.<ref name="X-NAP"/> Other commentators, however, put the figure at 0.950 billion metric tons.<ref name="Bloom07-06-04">"China to Cut Greenhouse Emissions by 950 Million Tons". Bloomberg. June 2, 2007. Retrieved June 4, 2007.</ref>
The publication of the strategy was officially announced during a meeting of the State Council, which called on governments and all sectors of the economy to implement the plan, and for the launch of a public environmental protection awareness campaign.<ref>"National Action Plan on Climate Change". Xinhua News Agency. June 2, 2007. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved June 4, 2007.</ref>
The National Action Plan includes increasing the proportion of electricity generation from renewable energy sources and from nuclear power, increasing the efficiency of coal-fired power stations,<ref name="BBC2007-06-04">"China unveils climate change plan". BBC. June 4, 2007. Retrieved June 4, 2007.</ref> the use of cogeneration, and the development of coal-bed and coal-mine methane.<ref name="Bloom07-06-04"/>
In addition, the one child policy in China has successfully slowed down the population increase, preventing 300 million births, the equivalent of 1.3 billion tons of CO2 emissions based on average world per capita emissions of 4.2 tons at 2005 level.<ref>"China says one-child policy helps protect climate". Reuters. August 30, 2007. Retrieved August 30, 2007.</ref>
11th and 12th Five-Year Plans
Beginning with the 11th, each of China's Five Year plans have sought to move China away from energy-intensive manufacturing and into high-value sectors and have highlighted the importance of low-carbon technology as a strategic emerging industry, particularly in the areas of wind and solar power.<ref name=":32" />: 26–27 The Plan set a national energy intensity target.<ref name=":32" />: 54 of a 20% reduction.<ref name=":4">Heilmann, Sebastian (2018). Red Swan: How Unorthodox Policy-Making Facilitated China's Rise. The Chinese University of Hong Kong Press. ISBN 978-962-996-827-4.</ref>: 167 It was identified as a "binding target" and focused on throughout the Plan's implementation.<ref name=":4" />: 167 Policymakers viewed emissions reductions and energy conservation as the highest priority environmental matters under the 11th Five-Year Plan.<ref name=":4" />: 136
Successful achievement of emissions and energy conservation targets in the 11th Five-Year Plan shaped policymaker's approach for the 12th Five-Year Plan, prompting expanded use of binding targets to capitalize on successes in these areas.<ref name=":4" />: 136
In January 2012, as part of its 12th Five-year Plan, China published a report 12th Five-year Plan on Greenhouse Emission Control (guofa [2011] No. 41), which establishes goals of reducing carbon intensity by 17% by 2015, compared with 2010 levels and raising energy consumption intensity by 16%, relative to GDP.<ref name="china120118">Vivian Ni (January 18, 2012). "China Sets New Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Goals". China Briefing. Retrieved January 18, 2012.</ref> More demanding targets were set for the most developed regions and those with most heavy industry, including Guangdong, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Tianjin.<ref name="china120118" /> China also plans to meet 11.4% of its primary energy requirements from non-fossil sources by 2015.<ref name="china120118" />
The plan will also pilot the construction of a number of low-carbon Development Zones and low-carbon residential communities, which it hopes will result in a cluster effect among businesses and consumers.<ref name="china120118" />
To facilitate carbon trading and to more broadly help assess emissions targets and meet the transparency requirements of the Paris Agreement, the Plan improved the system for greenhouse gas emissions monitoring.<ref name=":32" />: 55 This was the first time that carbon emissions trading had featured in one of China's Five-Year Plans.<ref name=":9222">Ding, Iza (2020). "Pollution Emissions Trading in China". In Esarey, Ashley; Haddad, Mary Alice; Lewis, Joanna I.; Harrell, Stevan (eds.). Greening East Asia: The Rise of the Eco-Developmental State. Seattle: University of Washington Press. ISBN 978-0-295-74791-0. JSTOR j.ctv19rs1b2.</ref>: 80
The Plan also provided for the development of an ultra-high-voltage (UHV) transmission corridor to increase the integration of renewable energy from the point of generation to its point of consumption.<ref name=":32" />: 39–41
In addition, the Government will in future include data on greenhouse emissions in its official statistics.<ref name=china120118/>
Carbon trading scheme
In a separate development, on January 13, 2012,<ref>China set to launch first caps on CO2 emissions New Scientist, 2012-01-17</ref> the National Development and Reform Commission announced that the cities of Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Chongqing and Shenzhen, and the provinces of Hubei and Guangdong would become the first to participate in a pilot carbon cap and trade scheme that would operate in a similar way to the European Union Emission Trading Scheme.<ref name=china120118 /> The development follows an unsuccessful experiment with voluntary carbon exchanges that was set up in 2009 in Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin.<ref name=china120118 />
Fossil fuels
Coal
| Production | Net import | Net available | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 2,226 | -47 | 2,179 |
| 2008 | 2,761 | nd | 2,761 |
| 2009 | 2,971 | 114 | 3,085 |
| 2010 | 3,162 | 157 | 3,319 |
| 2011 | 3,576 | 177 | 3,753 |
| 2015 | 3,527 | 199 | 3,726 |
| Excludes Hong Kong | |||
Coal remains the foundation of the Chinese energy system, covering close to 70 percent of the country's primary energy needs and representing 80 percent of the fuel used in electricity generation.<ref>Aden, Nathaniel T.; Fridley, David G.; Zheng, Nina (June 20, 2008). "Outlook and Challenges for Chinese Coal". doi:10.2172/1050632. OSTI 1050632. S2CID 112601162. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)</ref> China produces and consumes more coal than any other country. Analysis in 2016 shows that China's coal consumption appears to have peaked in 2014.<ref name="carrington-2016">Carrington, Damian (July 25, 2016). "China's coal peak hailed as turning point in climate change battle". The Guardian. Retrieved July 25, 2016.</ref><ref name="qi-etal-2016">Qi, Ye; Stern, Nicholas; Wu, Tong; Lu, Jiaqi; Green, Fergus (July 25, 2016). "China's post-coal growth" (PDF). Nature Geoscience. 9 (8): 564–566. Bibcode:2016NatGe...9..564Q. doi:10.1038/ngeo2777.</ref> According to Global Energy Monitor, China's government has limited the hours of 40% of coal-fired power stations built in 2019, due to overcapacity in electricity generation.<ref>Shearer, Christine; Myllyvirta, Lauri; Yu, Aiqun; Aitken, Greig; Mathew-Shah, Neha; Dallos, Gyorgy; Nace, Ted (March 2020). Boom and Bust 2020: Tracking the Global Coal Plant Pipeline (PDF) (Report). Global Energy Monitor.</ref>
Petroleum
China's oil supply was 4,855 TWh in 2009 which represented 10% of the world's supply.<ref name=energisve2010oil>Energy in Sweden 2010, Facts and figures Archived October 16, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Table 47 Global supply of oil, 1990–2009 (TWh)</ref>
Although China is still a major crude oil producer, it became an oil importer in the 1990s. China became dependent on imported oil for the first time in its history in 1993 due to demand rising faster than domestic production.<ref name=":0" /> In 2002, annual crude petroleum production was 1,298,000,000 barrels, and annual crude petroleum consumption was 1,670,000,000 barrels. In 2006, it imported 145 million tons of crude oil, accounting for 47% of its total oil consumption.<ref>"China's oil imports set new record". Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Archived from the original on May 22, 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-02.</ref><ref>"China's 2006 crude oil imports 145 mln tons, up 14.5 pct - customs - Forbes.com". Forbes. November 19, 2007. Archived from the original on November 19, 2007. Retrieved April 6, 2018.</ref> By 2014 China was importing approximately 7 mil. barrels of oil per day. Three state-owned oil companies – Sinopec, CNPC, and CNOOC – dominate its domestic market.
China announced on June 20, 2008, plans to raise petrol, diesel and aviation kerosene prices. This decision appeared to reflect a need to reduce the unsustainably high level of subsidies these fuels attract, given the global trend in the price of oil.<ref>Rise in global oil price dents China's petrol subsidy policy Archived June 12, 2011, at the Wayback Machine</ref>
Top oil producers were in 2010: Russia 502 Mt (13%), Saudi Arabia 471 Mt (12%), US 336 Mt (8%), Iran 227 Mt (6%), China 200 Mt (5%), Canada 159 Mt (4%), Mexico 144 Mt (4%), UAE 129 Mt (3%). The world oil production increased from 2005 to 2010 1.3% and from 2009 to 2010 3.4%.<ref name=IEA2010a2011>IEA Key energy statistics 2010 Archived October 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine and IEA Key World Energy Statistics 2011 October pages 11, 21</ref>
Natural gas
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China's natural gas supply was 1,015 TWh in 2009 that was 3% of the world supply.<ref name="energiläget2010G">Energy in Sweden 2010, Facts and figures Archived October 16, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Table 50 Global supply of gas 1990–2009 (TWh)</ref>
CNPC, Sinopec, and CNOOC are all active in the upstream gas sector, as well as in LNG import, and in midstream pipelines. Branch pipelines and urban networks are run by city gas companies including China Gas Holdings, ENN Energy, Towngas China, Beijing Enterprises Holdings and Kunlun Energy.
China was top seventh in natural gas production in 2010.<ref name="IEA2010a2011"/>
Issued by China's State Council in September 2013, China's Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Air Pollution illustrates government desire to increase the share of natural gas in China's energy mix.<ref name=":0" /> In May 2014 China signed a 30-year deal with Russia to deliver 38 billion cubic metres of natural gas each year.<ref>38 billion cubic metres of natural gas</ref> The Power of Siberia pipeline is designed to reduce China's dependence on coal, which is more carbon intensive and causes more pollution than natural gas.<ref name=":1">"'Power of Siberia': Russia, China launch massive gas pipeline". Al Jazeera. December 2, 2019.</ref> The proposed western gas route from Russia's West Siberian petroleum basin to North-Western China is known as Power of Siberia 2.<ref>"'Power of Siberia 2' Pipeline Could See Europe, China Compete for Russian Gas". VOA News. January 18, 2022.</ref>
In November 2021, U.S. producer Venture Global LNG signed a twenty-year contract with China's state-owned Sinopec to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG).<ref>"Sinopec signs China's largest long-term LNG contract with U.S. firm". Reuters. November 4, 2021.</ref> China's imports of U.S. natural gas would more than double.<ref>"Sinopec signs huge LNG deals with US producer Venture Global". Financial Times. October 20, 2021.</ref>
Electricity generation
In 2013, China's total annual electricity output was 5.398 trillion kWh and the annual consumption was 5.380 trillion kWh with an installed capacity of 1247 GW (all the largest in the world). <ref>"COUNTRY COMPARISON :: ELECTRICITY – PRODUCTION". CIA. Archived from the original on October 1, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2014.</ref>
This is an increase from 2009, when China's total annual electricity output was 3.71465 trillion kWh,<ref>"China Bureau of Statistics 2009年国民经济和社会发展统计公报". Stats.gov.cn. Archived from the original on February 28, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2011.</ref> and the annual consumption was 3.6430 trillion kWh (second largest in the world).<ref>"China's National Development and Reform Commission: 2009年全社会用电量稳定增长 清洁能源快速发展". Ndrc.gov.cn. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved February 2, 2011.</ref> In the same year, the total installed electricity generating capacity was 874 GW.<ref>"China installed capacity hits 710 GW in 2007". Uk.reuters.com. January 9, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2011.</ref> China is undertaking substantial long-distance transmission projects with record breaking capacities, and has the goal of achieving an integrated nationwide grid in the period between 2015 and 2020.<ref>Xiaoxin Zhou of Electric Power Research Institute, China (June 27, 2001). "Power System Development and Nationwide Grid Interconnection in China" (PDF). Workshop on Power Grid Interconnection in Northeast Asia, Beijing, China, May 14–16, 2001. Nautilus Institute: 42. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 25, 2009. Retrieved December 18, 2008.</ref>
Coal
In 2015, China generated 73% of its electricity from coal-fired power stations, which has been dropping from a peak of 81% in 2007.<ref name=IEAcoal/>
In recent years, China has increased its use of coal power and continued to build new coal power plants. The National Energy Administration's early warning risk rating for coal plants approved the establishment of new power plants in 2020. China shut down roughly 7GW of power plants at the same time, continuing to decommission ageing coal-fired power reactors.<ref>CEN (December 24, 2022). "China's Major Coal Import Hubs Grow". China Economy. Retrieved December 24, 2022.</ref>
| From coal | Total | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1,713 | 2,200 | 78% |
| 2007 | 2,656 | 3,279 | 81% |
| 2008 | 2,733 | 3,457 | 79% |
| 2009 | 2,913 | 3,696 | 79% |
| 2010 | 3,273 | 4,208 | 78% |
| 2011 | 3,724 | 4,715 | 79% |
| 2012 | 3,850 | 4,937 | 78% |
| 2013 | 4,200 | 5,398 | 78% |
| 2014 | 4,354 | 5,583 | 78% |
| 2015 | 4,115 | 5,666 | 73% |
Renewables
China is the world's leading renewable energy producer, with an installed capacity of 152 GW.<ref name="guardian08-08-01">Alok Jha (August 1, 2008). "China 'leads the world' in renewable energy". The Guardian. Retrieved February 2, 2011.</ref> China has been investing heavily in the renewable energy field in recent years. In 2007, the total renewable energy investment was US$12 billion, second only to Germany.<ref>Kinver, Mark (August 1, 2008). "China's 'rapid renewables surge'". BBC News. Retrieved February 2, 2011.</ref> In 2012, China invested US$65.1 billion in clean energy (20% more than in 2011), fully 30% of the total investment by the G-20, including 25% (US$31.2 billion) of global solar energy investment, 37% percent (US$27.2 billion) of global wind energy investment, and 47% (US$6.3 billion) of global investment in "other renewable energy" (small hydro, geothermal, marine, and biomass); 23 GW of clean generation capacity was installed.<ref>"Who’s Winning the Clean Energy Race? 2012 Edition", The Pew Charitable Trusts</ref>
China is also the largest producer of wind turbines and solar panels.<ref>Bradsher, Keith (January 30, 2010). "China leads global race to make clean energy". The New York Times.</ref> Approximately 7% of China's energy was from renewable sources in 2006, a figure targeted to rise to 10% by 2010 and to 16% by 2020.<ref name="Bloom07-06-04"/> The major renewable energy source in China is hydropower. Total hydro-electric output in China in 2009 was 615.64 TWh, constituting 16.6% of all electricity generated. The country already has the most hydro-electric capacity in the world, and the Three Gorges Dam is currently the largest hydro-electric power station in the world, with a total capacity of 22.5 GW. It has been in full operation since May 2012.
Nuclear power
In 2012, China had 15 nuclear power units with a total electric capacity of 11 GW and total output of 54.8 billion kWh, accounting for 1.9% country's total electricity output. This rose to 17 reactors in 2013. By 2016 the number of operating nuclear reactors was 32 with 22 under construction and other dozen to start construction this year. There are plans to increase nuclear power capacity and nuclear power percentage, bringing the total electricity output to 86 GW and 4% respectively by 2020.<ref>"China's nuclear plants generate 74.8 TWh of electricity in 2011". April 23, 2007. Retrieved June 22, 2007.</ref> Plans are to increase this to 200 GWe by 2030, and 400 GWe by 2050. China has set an end-of-the-Century goal 1500GWs of nuclear energy, most of this from fast reactors. China has 32<ref>"PRIS – Country Details". Iaea.org. Retrieved September 24, 2013.</ref> reactors under construction, the highest number in the world.
Rural electrification
Following the completion of the similar Township Electrification Program in 2005, the Village Electrification Program plans to provide renewable electricity to 3.5 million households in 10,000 villages by 2010. This is to be followed by full rural electrification using renewable energy by 2015.<ref name="REN21-2006">"Renewables Global Status Report 2006 Update" (PDF). REN21. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 18, 2011. Retrieved 2007-05-16.</ref>
Renewable energy sources
Although a majority of the renewable energy in China is from hydropower, other renewable energy sources are in rapid development. In 2006, a total of 10 billion US dollars had been invested in renewable energy, second only to Germany.<ref name="2006 summary">"China poised to lead renewables race". Archived from the original on January 27, 2008.</ref>
China is a major source of clean energy technology transfer to other developing countries.<ref name=":32">Lewis, Joanna I. (2023). Cooperating for the Climate: Learning from International Partnerships in China's Clean Energy Sector. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press. ISBN 978-0-262-54482-5.</ref>: 4
Bioenergy
In 2006, 16 million tons of corn have been used to produce a first generation biofuel (ethanol).<ref>China corn for ethanol 16 m tons in 2006, published 2007-04-09. Retrieved 2007-08-27.</ref> However, because food prices in China rose sharply during 2007, China has decided to ban the further expansion of the corn ethanol industry.
On February 7, a spokesman for the State Forestry Administration announced that 130,000 square kilometres (50,000 sq mi) would be devoted to biofuel production. Under an agreement reached with PetroChina in January 2007, 400 square kilometres of Jatropha curcas is to be grown for biodiesel production. Local governments are also developing oilseed projects. There were concerns that such developments may lead to environmental damage.<ref>Chinese Biofuels Expansion Threatens Ecological Disaster, Worldwatch Institute, published 2007-03-13. Retrieved 2007-06-28.</ref>
In 2018, The Telegraph reported that the biofuel industry is further on the rise.<ref>"What is biofuel and why is it big in China?". April 26, 2019. Archived from the original on July 22, 2019 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.</ref> There also seems to be considerable interest in biofuels (i.e. biodiesel, green jet fuel, ...) <ref>"Biofuels push to help clear the air – Chinadaily.com.cn". www.chinadaily.com.cn.</ref><ref>New energy</ref><ref>"Sinopec company prepares to produce green jet fuel | Biofuels International Magazine". biofuels-news.com. August 16, 2012.</ref> which use waste material as the input source (second generation biofuel).
Solar power
China has become the world's largest consumer of solar energy.<ref>Energy: China becomes the world's largest solar power market published 2007-08-27. Retrieved 2007-08-27.</ref> It is the largest producer of solar water heaters, accounting for 60 percent of the world's solar hot water heating capacity, and the total installed heaters is estimated at 30 million households.<ref>Kunming Heats Up as China’s “Solar City” published 2007-06-15. Retrieved 2007-08-27.</ref> Solar PV production in China is also in rapid development. In 2007, 0.82 GW of Solar PV was produced, second only to Japan.<ref name="guardian08-08-01"/>
China's Sixth Five-Year Plan (1981-1985) was the first to address government policy support for solar PV panel manufacturing.<ref name=":32" />: 34 Policy support for solar panel manufacturing has been a part of every Five-Year Plan since.<ref name=":32" />: 34
As part of the stimulus plan of "Golden Sun", announced by the government in 2009, several developments and projects became part of the milestones for the development of solar technology in China. These include the agreement signed by LDK for a 500MW solar project, a new thin film solar plant developed by Anwell Technologies in Henan province using its own proprietary solar technology and the solar power plant project in a desert, headed by First Solar and Ordos City. The effort to drive the renewable energy use in China was further assured after the speech by the Chinese President, given at the UN climate summit on 22 Sept 2009 in New York, pledging that China will plan to have 15% of its energy from renewable sources within a decade. China is using solar power in houses, buildings, and cars.<ref>"LDK to develop 500 MW of PV power in China". PennWell. September 1, 2009.</ref><ref>"Anwell Produces its First and Thin Film Solar Panel". Solarbuzz. September 7, 2009.</ref><ref>"First Solar to Team With Ordos City on Major Solar Power Plant in China Desert". First Solar. September 8, 2009. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved September 25, 2009.</ref>
Because solar works well as a distributed power source, recent Chinese policies have focused on increasing the prevalence of distributed solar energy and for developing systems so that electricity from solar energy can be used at its point of generation instead of transmitted over long distances.<ref name=":32" />: 34
Wind power
China's total wind power capacity reached 2.67 gigawatts (GW) in 2006 and 44.7 GW by 2010.<ref>"Bloomberg article". www.bloomberg.com. [permanent dead link]</ref><ref>"Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 4, 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)</ref> This figure reached 281 GW in 2020, an increase of 71.6 GW on the previous year.<ref>Stanway, Muyu Xu, David (January 21, 2021). "China doubles new renewable capacity in 2020; still builds thermal plants". Reuters. Retrieved March 11, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)</ref>
Energy conservation
General work plan
Officials were warned that violating energy conservation and environmental protection laws would lead to criminal proceedings, while failure to achieve targets would be taken into account in the performance assessment of officials and business leaders.<ref name="X-EnergyEfficiency07-06-03">China says energy efficiency key to performance of government & company leaders, Xinhua News Agency, published 2007-06-03. Retrieved 2007-06-04.</ref>
After achieving less than half the 4% reduction in energy intensity targeted for 2006, all companies and local and national government were asked to submit detailed plans for compliance before June 30, 2007.<ref name="ChinaToStick">China to stick to strict environment-protection plans, Xinhua News Agency, published 2007-06-03. Retrieved 2007-06-04.</ref><ref>Chinese government urges efforts for energy saving, Xinhua News Agency, published 2007-06-03. Retrieved 2007-06-04.</ref>
During the first four years of the plan, energy intensity improved by 14.4%, but dropped sharply in the first quarter of 2010. In August 2010, China announced the closing of 2,087 steel mills, cement works and other energy-intensive factories by September 30, 2010. The factory closings were made more palatable by a labor shortage in much of China making it easier for workers to find other jobs.<ref>In Crackdown on Energy Use, China to Shut 2,000 Factories, The New York Times, published 2010-08-09. Retrieved 2010-11-07.</ref>
Space heating and air conditioning
A State Council circular issued on June 3, 2007, restricts the temperature of air conditioning in public buildings to no lower than 26 °C in summer (78.8 °F), and of heating to no higher than 20 °C (68 °F) in winter. The sale of inefficient air conditioning units has also been outlawed.<ref>State Council: no lower than 26 degrees in air-conditioned rooms, Xinhua News Agency, published 2007-06-03. Retrieved 2007-06-04.</ref>
Public opinion
The Chinese results from the 1st Annual World Environment Review, published on June 5, 2007, revealed that, in a sample of 1024 people (50% male):<ref>First Annual World Environment Review Poll Reveals Countries Want Governments to Take Strong Action on Climate Change Archived October 22, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Global Market Insite, published 2007-06-05. Retrieved 2007-05-09.</ref>
- 88% are concerned about climate change.
- 97% think their government should do more to tackle global warming.
- 63% think that China is too dependent on fossil fuels.
- 56% think that China is too reliant on foreign oil.
- 91% think that a minimum 25% of electricity should be generated from renewable energy sources.
- 61% are concerned about nuclear power.
- 79% are concerned about carbon dioxide emissions from developing countries.
- 62% think it appropriate for developed countries to demand restrictions on carbon dioxide emissions from developing countries.
Another survey published in August 2007 by China Youth Daily and the British Council sampled 2,500 Chinese people with an average age of 30.1. It showed that 80% of young Chinese are concerned about global warming.<ref>China's young favor sustainable consumption, but want cars first published 08-20-2007. Retrieved 08-28-07.</ref>
See also
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- Climate change in China
- China Energy Conservation Investment Corporation
- Environment of China
- Electricity sector in China
- List of power stations in China
- Low-carbon economy
- Peak oil
- Pollution in China
- Renewable energy in China
- Nuclear power in China
- Economics of nuclear power plants
- List of countries by energy consumption and production
- World energy consumption
- Category:Energy by country
