China and US face arduous works ahead to cut gas emission

China Daily quoted a leading Chinese energy expert said China and the United States face arduous works ahead in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Mr He Jiankun director of a low carbon energy lab of Tsinghua University said but the two countries have great potential to extend energy technology collaboration. He said that both countries have shown enthusiasm in technology cooperation in fields such as carbon capture and storage, electric vehicles and energy efficient buildings after the two nations decided to jointly invest USD 150 million for a research partnership in the next five years.

He added that China will mainly focus on emissions reduction in industrial and production sectors which consume about 70% of China energy while the US needs to cut emissions in sectors such as transportation and the building sector. He also said that if China uses more oil and natural gas, imports will soar and the global supplies may be insufficient.

Mr He Jiankun said such energy sources will bring great changes to the country after 2020, with the changes more obvious after 2030. He said "It is inevitable that natural energy consumption, including coal, will continue to grow along with China's process of industrialization and urbanization."

He added that "Without such a period, a country cannot achieve absolute emission reduction."

China carbon intensity decreased by 55% from 1990 to 2009, compared with about 15% average reduction worldwide, and less than 30 percent of developed countries during the same period. Energy saving and carbon emissions reduction has been the government's top priority and much efforts have been made to cut coal consumption.

Many obsolete and inefficient coal fired power plants have been closed. From 2006 to July this year a total of 70 gigawatts of small scale coal fired capacity have been closed and advanced supercritical generating units have been built.

Ms Barbara Finamore China program director of the Natural Resources Defense Council said "China's efficiency is going up by shutting down low efficient plants and building the new coal plants."

She said that China average efficiency for coal-fired generating units has surpassed many developed countries, including the US, due to the newly built high efficient capacity. She added that "China has huge potential for energy efficiency, adding that China has made solid progress in renewable technologies.”

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