Analysis of China's Renewable Energy Development

Author：Dan Shi Published：04/17/2014 Source：网络

All countries are facing the challenge of moving to a more secure and low-carbon energy system without weakening economic and social development. In this regard, China is facing an even greater challenge in terms of economic cost, as cheap coal remains the main energy form. Technical innovation and industrialization in the area of renewable energy is an important means of lowering cost. China is in for a period of high-speed development of its economy and the rising demand for energy is irreversible. If the technical progress and development speed of renewable energy lags behind the growth in demand, it will be difficult to realize the improvement of its energy structure.

Renewable energy can be generated from water, wind, sunlight, biomass, geothermal heat and tidal waves. Compared with fossil energy sources, such as coal and petroleum, renewable energy sources emit less pollution to the environment, and possess the potential for endless utilization. It is, therefore, important to improve the energy structure of China and energy supply security, to satisfy the constantly increasing energy demand and to realize universal service of energy sources.

China is in a period of accelerated industrialization and urbanization, and energy demand is rising steadily. Since 2002, energy consumption has been growing by more than 10 percent annually. The total energy consumption in 2006 reached 2462.70 million tons of standard coal (1 ton of raw coal is equal to 0.714 tons of standard coal), 4.3 times the consumption in 1978, or 1 billion tons of standard coal more than in 2000. China’s energy production has also increased greatly. In 2006, China’s primary energy production totaled 2210.56 million tons in terms of standard coal, 3.52 times that of 1978. However, due to the increasing energy consumption, China’s net import of energy in 2006 reached 202.46 million tons of standard coal. This included net imports of 138.838 tons of crude oil, approximately 50 percent of the country’s total oil consumption. Most forecasts show that by 2020 oil shortages could reach 80,000 bbls/day and the dependence on oil importation by that time is likely to reach over 70 percent of total consumption (Brookings Institution, 2006). According to the SCIO (2008), China’s coal reserves can be mined for another 48 years, oil reserves can be extracted for another 12.1 years andnatural gas for 41.8 years. China is facing great challenges in its sustainable development of energy sources.

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