76
J. Zhou and S. Chang
the CP scenario; while under the RP scenario, the peak of CO 2 emission can be seen
before the year of 2020.
3.2.3 Key Challenges for Achieving Beijing’s CO 2 Emission
Peak Target
Coal burning is no longer the main source of carbon emissions in Beijing, accounting
for only 8% of the city’s total CO 2 emissions in 2017. As Beijing increasingly
becomes coal-free, CO 2 emissions from coal burning will furtherly decline, paving
the way for its early peak target. However, the drop in coal use does not imply a smooth
sailing for the 2020 peak. While standing at a new start of energy transformation,
Beijing still faces challenges to achieve the peak target by 2020.
3.2.3.1 High Proportion of the Building Sector in Energy Consumption
In 2017, total energy use in the building sector of Beijing was about 34 million tce,
5
accounting for 47.6% of the total in the city, much higher than the industrial and
transportation sectors, making it the largest energy consumption sector in the city.
The building sector in Beijing consumed 3.53 million tons of coal, 7.9 billion m
3 of
natural gas and 68.4 billion kWh of electricity, representing 72%, 48% and 64% of
energy consumption respectively. Per capita energy use of the sector was 1.6 tce/cap,
and energy use per unit of square meter was 32 kgce/m
2 , both higher than the national
average, but lower than developed countries, as shown in Fig. 3.11. Therefore, the
per capita energy consumption of the building sector still has space for growth in the
future.
In 2017, the size of civil buildings in Beijing totaled about 1.06 billion m
2 , and the
per capita residential space was 32 m
2 /cap, which was close to the national average.
In recent years, with the stable urban construction in the city, the building spaces have
also been stabilized, with new spaces mainly added to upgrade living environment,
improve residential amenities, and enhance Beijing’s functional development. Based
on the long-term population and urban function planning of Beijing, it’s projected
that by 2035, the inventory of buildings will amount to 1.5 billion m
2 , including
690 million m
2 of urban residential buildings, 180 million m
2 of rural residential
buildings, and 630 million m
2 of public and commercial buildings.
Given the trends of Beijing’s actual energy use and potential control measures,
we can calculate the energy consumption of building sector under varied scenarios.
Under the CP scenario, consumption would continue to grow, and slow down after
2030 to register at around 52 million tce by 2035; while under the RP scenario, it
would peak by around 2030, and hit 45 million tce by 2035, which is 7 million tce
less than that of the CP scenario. Electricity and gas are the main forms of energy
5 The electricity consumption is calculated by coal equivalent.
J. Zhou and S. Chang
the CP scenario; while under the RP scenario, the peak of CO 2 emission can be seen
before the year of 2020.
3.2.3 Key Challenges for Achieving Beijing’s CO 2 Emission
Peak Target
Coal burning is no longer the main source of carbon emissions in Beijing, accounting
for only 8% of the city’s total CO 2 emissions in 2017. As Beijing increasingly
becomes coal-free, CO 2 emissions from coal burning will furtherly decline, paving
the way for its early peak target. However, the drop in coal use does not imply a smooth
sailing for the 2020 peak. While standing at a new start of energy transformation,
Beijing still faces challenges to achieve the peak target by 2020.
3.2.3.1 High Proportion of the Building Sector in Energy Consumption
In 2017, total energy use in the building sector of Beijing was about 34 million tce,
5
accounting for 47.6% of the total in the city, much higher than the industrial and
transportation sectors, making it the largest energy consumption sector in the city.
The building sector in Beijing consumed 3.53 million tons of coal, 7.9 billion m
3 of
natural gas and 68.4 billion kWh of electricity, representing 72%, 48% and 64% of
energy consumption respectively. Per capita energy use of the sector was 1.6 tce/cap,
and energy use per unit of square meter was 32 kgce/m
2 , both higher than the national
average, but lower than developed countries, as shown in Fig. 3.11. Therefore, the
per capita energy consumption of the building sector still has space for growth in the
future.
In 2017, the size of civil buildings in Beijing totaled about 1.06 billion m
2 , and the
per capita residential space was 32 m
2 /cap, which was close to the national average.
In recent years, with the stable urban construction in the city, the building spaces have
also been stabilized, with new spaces mainly added to upgrade living environment,
improve residential amenities, and enhance Beijing’s functional development. Based
on the long-term population and urban function planning of Beijing, it’s projected
that by 2035, the inventory of buildings will amount to 1.5 billion m
2 , including
690 million m
2 of urban residential buildings, 180 million m
2 of rural residential
buildings, and 630 million m
2 of public and commercial buildings.
Given the trends of Beijing’s actual energy use and potential control measures,
we can calculate the energy consumption of building sector under varied scenarios.
Under the CP scenario, consumption would continue to grow, and slow down after
2030 to register at around 52 million tce by 2035; while under the RP scenario, it
would peak by around 2030, and hit 45 million tce by 2035, which is 7 million tce
less than that of the CP scenario. Electricity and gas are the main forms of energy
5 The electricity consumption is calculated by coal equivalent.