1 China’s Energy Transition Strategy in the Context of Global …
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Therefore, striking balances between economic development and people’s needs
for a better life and the clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient goals is crucial for China
to achieve the integration and low-carbon transition of its energy system.
1.3.4 Future Path for China’s Energy System
Considering the serious energy challenge, if the current development of China’s
energy system continues, double challenges would emerge: for one, an inefficient
industry burdened by overcapacity with great inertia; for another, a tension between
heightened environmental and climate constraints and increasing demand for highquality energy services. China already has come up with the overall plans and goals
for energy transition. However, a deep reflection on the coordinated development of
energy and other fields in terms of system integration is required to link the relatively
independent goals and requirements under the existing policies to achieve the synergy
of all to meet climatic conditions. This section centers on the “three coordinations” of
energy and economy, energy and infrastructure, and energy and regions, and to this
end, offered a new approach of energy system integration featuring “smart energy
farms—smart energy towns—smart industrial parks”, paving the way for low-carbon
energy transition.
1.3.4.1 Overall Plans and Goals for China’s Energy Revolution
To spur energy transition, China has put in place a relatively clear strategic framework. In China, the term “energy transition” largely equate with “energy revolution”.
Or rather, “energy revolution” represents the Chinese version of “energy transition”.
The term “revolution” also signifies the urgency and determination of China’s energy
transition and its resolve to make it a reality.
The Chinese government has unveiled the overall policy requirements of the
energy revolution. The report of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party
of China in 2012 (Hu 2012) first proposed the concept of the energy revolution,
requesting “to boost energy production and consumption revolution, cap total energy
use, strengthen energy conservation and consumption reduction, support energysaving low-carbon industries and new energy, renewable energy development to
ensure national energy security.” Subsequently, General Secretary Xi Jinping further
illustrated the dimensions of energy revolution characterized by “four revolutions,
one cooperation” in 2014 (Xi 2014), namely: (1) advance the energy consumption
revolution and curtail unreasonable energy use; (2) promote energy supply revolution
by creating a diversified supply system; (3) facilitate energy technology revolution
to upgrade industries; (4) drive energy system revolution to fast-track energy development; (5) step up all-round international cooperation to enhance energy security
in an open manner. The report to the 19th National Congress of the Party in 2017 (Xi
2017) also indicated the need to “press ahead with revolution in energy production
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Therefore, striking balances between economic development and people’s needs
for a better life and the clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient goals is crucial for China
to achieve the integration and low-carbon transition of its energy system.
1.3.4 Future Path for China’s Energy System
Considering the serious energy challenge, if the current development of China’s
energy system continues, double challenges would emerge: for one, an inefficient
industry burdened by overcapacity with great inertia; for another, a tension between
heightened environmental and climate constraints and increasing demand for highquality energy services. China already has come up with the overall plans and goals
for energy transition. However, a deep reflection on the coordinated development of
energy and other fields in terms of system integration is required to link the relatively
independent goals and requirements under the existing policies to achieve the synergy
of all to meet climatic conditions. This section centers on the “three coordinations” of
energy and economy, energy and infrastructure, and energy and regions, and to this
end, offered a new approach of energy system integration featuring “smart energy
farms—smart energy towns—smart industrial parks”, paving the way for low-carbon
energy transition.
1.3.4.1 Overall Plans and Goals for China’s Energy Revolution
To spur energy transition, China has put in place a relatively clear strategic framework. In China, the term “energy transition” largely equate with “energy revolution”.
Or rather, “energy revolution” represents the Chinese version of “energy transition”.
The term “revolution” also signifies the urgency and determination of China’s energy
transition and its resolve to make it a reality.
The Chinese government has unveiled the overall policy requirements of the
energy revolution. The report of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party
of China in 2012 (Hu 2012) first proposed the concept of the energy revolution,
requesting “to boost energy production and consumption revolution, cap total energy
use, strengthen energy conservation and consumption reduction, support energysaving low-carbon industries and new energy, renewable energy development to
ensure national energy security.” Subsequently, General Secretary Xi Jinping further
illustrated the dimensions of energy revolution characterized by “four revolutions,
one cooperation” in 2014 (Xi 2014), namely: (1) advance the energy consumption
revolution and curtail unreasonable energy use; (2) promote energy supply revolution
by creating a diversified supply system; (3) facilitate energy technology revolution
to upgrade industries; (4) drive energy system revolution to fast-track energy development; (5) step up all-round international cooperation to enhance energy security
in an open manner. The report to the 19th National Congress of the Party in 2017 (Xi
2017) also indicated the need to “press ahead with revolution in energy production