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Renewable energy development in China: Resource assessment, technology status, and greenhouse gas mitigation potential

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  • Junfeng, Li
  • Wan, Yih-huei
  • Ohi, James M.

Abstract

China has become the third largest energy user in the world, and its coal-dominated energy structure implies high CO2 emissions. The amount of CO2 emissions from China may surpass that of the United States within 20-30 years, making China the world's largest source of greenhouse gases by 2020. Currently, renewable energy resources (except for hydropower) account for only a fraction of China's total energy consumption. However, China has abundant solar energy resources. More than two thirds of China receives an annual total insolation that exceeds 5.9 GJ/m2 (1,639 kWh/m2) with more than 2,200 hours of sunshine a year. Wind energy potential in China is about 3,200 GW, of which 253 GW is deemed technically exploitable. China has a wide range of biomass resources that can be used for energy supply and high temperature geothermal resources suitable for power generation located mainly in Tibet and Yunnan provinces. Renewable energy technologies have been actively deployed in China. Although PV power stations have not being connected to the national grid, total installed capacity was 3 MW in 1994. Solar water heaters are by far the largest solar thermal application in China with a total installed capacity of 3.3 million m2 in 1994. By the end of 1995, total installed capacity of grid-connected wind power plants had reached 36 MW. Also, over 140,000 small wind generators ranging in size from 50 W to 5 kW have been deployed with a total installed capacity of 17 MW. China is a world leader in the development and application of anaerobic technologies for the production of fuel gas and waste treatment and has by far the largest biomass gasification R&D capacity in the. Although renewable energy is projected to play a small role in future electricity generation, it is expected to be much more significant in the total energy sector. Under one scenario, renewable energy other than hydro provides up to 4% of the total energy supply and 88 million tons of carbon emission reduction by 2020. The estimated growth in greenhouse gas emissions, as well as serious local and regional environmental pollution problems caused by combustion of fossil fuels, provide strong arguments for the development of renewable energy resources.

Suggested Citation

  • Junfeng, Li & Wan, Yih-huei & Ohi, James M., 1997. "Renewable energy development in China: Resource assessment, technology status, and greenhouse gas mitigation potential," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 56(3-4), pages 381-394, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:56:y:1997:i:3-4:p:381-394
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    1. Hong, Lixuan & Zhou, Nan & Fridley, David & Raczkowski, Chris, 2013. "Assessment of China's renewable energy contribution during the 12th Five Year Plan," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 1533-1543.
    2. Lee Kwan, Calvin, 2010. "The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region: A major role in China's renewable energy future," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 46-52, March.
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    4. Yang, Jun & Wang, Xiaobing & Ma, Hengyun & Bai, Junfei & Jiang, Ye & Yu, Hai, 2014. "Potential usage, vertical value chain and challenge of biomass resource: Evidence from China’s crop residues," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 717-723.
    5. Zang, Haixiang & Xu, Qingshan & Bian, Haihong, 2012. "Generation of typical solar radiation data for different climates of China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 236-248.
    6. Bambawale, Malavika Jain & Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2011. "China's energy security: The perspective of energy users," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(5), pages 1949-1956, May.
    7. Zhao, Xiaoli & Lyon, Thomas P. & Song, Cui, 2012. "Lurching towards markets for power: China’s electricity policy 1985–2007," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 148-155.
    8. Wu, C.Z. & Yin, X.L. & Yuan, Z.H. & Zhou, Z.Q. & Zhuang, X.S., 2010. "The development of bioenergy technology in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(11), pages 4445-4450.
    9. Wei, Xiaolin & Shang, Yunfeng, 2023. "Modernization of governance at Chinese universities: Role of fossil fuels and green energy resource," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PB).
    10. Zhou, Jin & Wu, Yezheng & Yan, Gang, 2006. "Generation of typical solar radiation year for China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 31(12), pages 1972-1985.
    11. Zhou, Kaile & Yang, Shanlin & Shen, Chao & Ding, Shuai & Sun, Chaoping, 2015. "Energy conservation and emission reduction of China’s electric power industry," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 10-19.
    12. Tavana, Alireza & Emami Javid, Alireza & Houshfar, Ehsan & Mahmoudzadeh Andwari, Amin & Ashjaee, Mehdi & Shoaee, Saeed & Maghmoomi, Abtin & Marashi, Fatima, 2019. "Toward renewable and sustainable energies perspective in Iran," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 1194-1216.
    13. Wan, Kevin K.W. & Tang, H.L. & Yang, Liu & Lam, Joseph C., 2008. "An analysis of thermal and solar zone radiation models using an Angstrom–Prescott equation and artificial neural networks," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(7), pages 1115-1127.
    14. D’Agostino, Anthony L. & Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Bambawale, Malavika Jain, 2011. "And then what happened? A retrospective appraisal of China’s Renewable Energy Development Project (REDP)," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(11), pages 3154-3165.
    15. Murshed, Muntasir, 2019. "Trade Liberalization Policies and Renewable Energy Transition in Low and Middle-Income Countries? An Instrumental Variable Approach," MPRA Paper 97075, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    16. Liu, Dawei & Shiroyama, Hideaki, 2013. "Development of photovoltaic power generation in China: A transition perspective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 782-792.
    17. Xiao, Chaofeng & Luo, Huilong & Tang, Runsheng & Zhong, Hao, 2004. "Solar thermal utilization in China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 29(9), pages 1549-1556.
    18. Lam, Joseph C. & Wan, Kevin K.W. & Lau, Chris C.S. & Yang, Liu, 2008. "Climatic influences on solar modelling in China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(7), pages 1591-1604.
    19. Lam, J.C.K. & Woo, C.K. & Kahrl, F. & Yu, W.K., 2013. "What moves wind energy development in China? Show me the money!," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 423-429.
    20. Akinbami, J. -F. K. & Ilori, M. O. & Oyebisi, T. O. & Akinwumi, I. O. & Adeoti, O., 2001. "Biogas energy use in Nigeria: current status, future prospects and policy implications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 5(1), pages 97-112, March.
    21. Liu, Wen & Lund, Henrik & Mathiesen, Brian Vad & Zhang, Xiliang, 2011. "Potential of renewable energy systems in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(2), pages 518-525, February.
    22. Jiani Mao & Guangxue Zhang & Zhongqian Ling & Dingkun Yuan & Maosheng Liu & Jiangrong Xu, 2024. "Potentials of Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP)-Based Optimization for Low-Carbon Hydrogen Production and Development Pathways in China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-18, April.
    23. Jin, Zhou & Yezheng, Wu & Gang, Yan, 2004. "Estimation of daily diffuse solar radiation in China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 29(9), pages 1537-1548.

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