In March 2011 the communist party (CP) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) enacted their 12th Five-Year Plan for the period between 2011 to 2015. Previous charters were mainly focused on strong economic growth causing severe energy and environmental problems due to very high CO2 emissions. Scientists worldwide agree that the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide is the main driver for global warming and climate change.
What can be done so limit this development? Can maybe the 12th Five-Year Plan of China act as a good example?
The latest plan of the PRC eventually is giving a slight change to its old philosophy by setting on the agenda “three energy related priorities: the diversification of sources and development of clean energies; energy efficiency and energy conservation; and the development of electric vehicles” (Enerdata Ltd., 2013: 5). By publishing these objectives, the CP acknowledges a previous maldevelopment in energy and environmental aspects, which go hand in hand.
This paper tries to give answers to the following questions:
What is the status quo of China’s energy market?
Which environmental problems is China facing?
What technical challenges exist when turning China’s energy market into a more sustainable one?
What part can Renewable Energies play to decrease emission?
What key role does energy efficiency play in China’s energy market?
What can be a possible outlook?
Table of Contents
2. Executive Summary
3. What is China’s energy status quo?
3.1. Introduction
3.2. Energy demand
3.3. Energy supply
4. Challenges
4.1. China’s enrivonmental problems
4.2. Technical issues of changing China’s energy system
5. Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency
5.1. Status quo and potential of Renewable Energies (RE)
5.2. Status quo and potential of Energy Efficiency (EE)
6. Outlook
Objective and Thematic Focus
This paper examines the critical state of China's energy market in the context of rapid economic growth and explores how renewable energy integration and improved energy efficiency can mitigate severe environmental impacts.
- Analysis of China's current energy consumption and production patterns.
- Investigation of environmental challenges arising from fossil fuel reliance.
- Evaluation of technical barriers, such as grid capacity and energy storage.
- Assessment of the growth potential for wind, solar, and bio-power.
- Strategies for improving energy efficiency through government regulation and technological adoption.
Excerpt from the Book
4.2. Technical issues of changing China’s energy system
Note: Despite its green features hydropower is not included in the context of this paper as a renewable energy. Hydropower is supplying base load electricity, production price is similar to coal and its potential has been exhausted in China for the most part. The development of additional hydropower plants is highly critized due to negative social and ecological impacts. Renewable Technologies referred to are wind power, photovoltaic, solar thermal and advanced usage of biomass (pellets, biogas, biofuels etc.). In order to keep content short in terms of Renewable Energies the focus of this paper is fixed on electricity.
Electricity can be very easily turned into other forms of energy, it is simple to transport via a grid and production is cheap. However, there are three major disadvantages using renewable energies, especially wind and solar energy.
The first problem bears electricity itself: it is difficult to store. Produced electricity has to be used in the second it is generated, it cannot vanish and would turn into extreme heat which can lead to blackouts and equipment destruction, a shutdown of the generating unit is the consequence. Existing technologies for electricity storage are economically only limited feasible due to high prices, low availability or bad economies of scale. Storage technologies include: accumulators, pumped storage power stations, redox-flow batteries and gasification via electrolysis.
Chapter Summary
Executive Summary: Provides an overview of the 12th Five-Year Plan and identifies the core challenges China faces regarding environmental sustainability and energy policy.
What is China’s energy status quo?: Establishes the current baseline of China's primary energy consumption and the dominance of fossil fuels in its supply structure.
Challenges: Highlights the significant ecological threats posed by industrial growth and identifies technical limitations in grid infrastructure.
Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency: Discusses the potential for emission reductions through renewable technology adoption and the necessity of improved energy efficiency.
Outlook: Concludes that while the challenges are immense, a strategic shift in energy policy and infrastructure can address these environmental concerns.
Keywords
China, Energy Policy, 12th Five-Year Plan, Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, Sustainability, CO2 emissions, Electricity Grid, Smart Grid, Fossil Fuels, Wind Power, Photovoltaic, Environmental Pollution, Energy Storage, Industrialization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper evaluates China's current energy market and explores how adopting renewable energy and enhancing energy efficiency can act as a solution to its severe environmental problems.
What are the main thematic areas covered?
Key themes include the current energy status quo, environmental impacts of industrial growth, technical hurdles in grid management, and the potential of renewable sources.
What is the central research question?
The paper explores the positive impacts that renewable energy and energy efficiency measures can have on China's environmental situation and the sustainability of its energy system.
Which scientific methods are applied in this work?
The paper utilizes data analysis based on existing reports from organizations like Enerdata, REN21, and the IPCC to define the status quo and project potentials for renewable energy development.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body covers the energy demand and supply dynamics, specific environmental indicators, the technical difficulties of integrating renewables, and policy approaches for energy efficiency.
What defines the core message of this paper?
The work emphasizes that China must transition from an extensive, inefficient growth model to a sustainable one supported by technological innovation and strict regulation.
Why is the electricity grid a critical barrier for renewable energy in China?
The current grid is not equipped to handle the fluctuating nature of renewable energy, and there is a lack of high-voltage paths to transport energy from resource-rich areas in the west to the high-consumption areas in the east.
What role does the "Smart Grid" play in the author's analysis?
The author identifies the "Smart Grid" as the necessary technical solution for managing nationwide electricity production and consumption to accommodate higher capacities of renewable energy.
What does the author propose to improve energy efficiency?
The author suggests stopping energy subsidies, forcing the adoption of energy-saving appliances, launching information programs for end-users, and providing financial incentives for sustainable alternatives.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Erik Ackner (Autor:in), 2014, China's energy problem, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/272196
