Zhang Jianhua: Accelerate the construction of a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system

Accelerate the construction of a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system

Zhang Jianhua, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and director of the National Energy Administration

Energy is an important area for the construction of ecological civilization. In recent years, the energy industry has deeply practiced Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, coordinated high-quality development and high-level protection, and continuously reached a new level of green development. First, from the perspective of energy structure, non-fossil energy has accelerated to become the main body of supply increment. In 2023, non-fossil energy will account for more than 40% of the total new energy production, and the energy production and supply system will accelerate the development of low-carbon. Second, from the perspective of the industrial system, green and low-carbon technologies have accelerated into the world's advanced ranks. China's new energy power generation technology is in the first echelon in the world, contributing more than 70% to the worldPhotovoltaic modulesand 60% of wind power equipment. The level of greening and modernization of the energy industry chain has been continuously improved. Third, from the perspective of terminal energy, the formation of a diversified supply and consumption system has been accelerated. The full supply of China VIB standard motor gasoline, the clean heating rate in the northern region has reached 76%, the national charging infrastructure has been built about 8.6 million units, reaching more than five times that of 2020, and the level of terminal energy electrification has increased by about 1 percentage point every year in the "14th Five-Year Plan".

At the same time, there are still some difficulties and challenges in the process of energy transition. First, the unexpected growth of energy demand has increased the pressure on transformation. In the first three years of the 14th Five-Year Plan, the average annual increase in energy consumption was 1.8 times that of the 13th Five-Year Plan, which is equivalent to an additional annual increase in the UK's energy consumption. Second, energy conservation and carbon reduction on the consumption side need to be strengthened urgently. China's energy intensity is 1.5 times the world average, and the energy consumption of the six major energy-consuming industries accounts for as much as 75%, and the progress of the energy consumption reduction index per unit of GDP in the 14th Five-Year Plan lags behind expectations. The potential of follow-up electric energy substitution is gradually narrowing, and the difficulty of clean substitution of terminal energy is increasing. Third, the construction of major projects is faced with many resource constraints. The lack of land and sea space for concentrated and contiguous new energy development, the difficulty of coordinating the construction of hydropower, nuclear power, transmission channels and other projects with ecologically sensitive areas, and the price mechanism of new energy storage and solar thermal power generation has not yet been perfected, so the joint force of energy transition policies needs to be strengthened urgently.

On the new journey, energy development must unswervingly implement Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, thoroughly implement the new energy security strategy of "Four Revolutions and One Cooperation", and accelerate the construction of a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system.

First, we need to build a solid foundation for safe carbon reduction.

We will continue to enhance energy production and supply capacity, improve the level of independent support, and provide reliable momentum for promoting Chinese-style modernization. Based on China's resource endowment, in accordance with the principle of establishing first and then breaking, and overall planning, we will promote the orderly replacement of new and old energy as a whole. Give full play to the role of fossil energy as a backstop, strengthen clean and efficient utilization, and improve the supporting and regulating role of low-carbon energy transformation.

The second is to increase the supply of non-fossil energy.

Promote the development of hydropower in major river basins in an orderly manner, and maintain a steady pace of nuclear power construction. Steadily promote the construction of new energy bases, optimize the planning and layout of offshore wind power bases, vigorously promote distributed renewable energy systems, and increase the installed capacity of new energy by more than 100 million kilowatts per year. By 2030, 70% of the new energy consumption will be supplied by non-fossil energy sources.

The third is to promote energy conservation and carbon reduction on the consumption side.

Carry out energy efficiency improvement actions in key industries, accelerate the substitution of electric energy in industry, construction, transportation and other fields, strengthen the integration and interaction between new energy vehicles and power grids, and reach about 30% of the electrification level of terminal energy consumption by 2025. We will continue to expand the consumption of green electricity, promote the orderly connection of the electricity market, the green certificate market and the carbon market, and ensure full coverage of the issuance of green certificates.

Fourth, strengthen green and low-carbon technology innovation.

Consolidate and expand the advantages of the new energy industry, and promote technological innovation in large-scale wind power, high-efficiency photovoltaics, and solar thermal. Vigorously promote the research and development of new-generation nuclear energy technologies such as small reactors and fourth-generation reactors, and make forward-looking arrangements for controlled nuclear fusion. Optimize the innovation mechanism of energy science and technology, promote the deep integration of industry, academia, research and application, play a good role in the "combination of fiscal, tax, financial and other policies", and promote the formation of a stronger energy innovation synergy.