differences. It is renewable, abundant and environmentally friendly. The world’s oceans contain
the energy equivalent of double the current global energy consumption. But ocean energy has
disadvantages as well, such as instability, low
energy density, harsh operating conditions and
poor commercial viability.
China has a vast coastline, which means
abundant marine energy. Currently, marine
power generation technology is still under
research and experiment, in particular how to
transform marine energy into reliable and easily
accessible energy carriers like electricity. As
marine energy technologies progress, it is
expected to become an important component of
China’s future energy system.
4.3.4 Space-Based Solar Power:
Exploration
The sun is the original source of most types of
energy developed and used by humans. Solar
energy radiates from the sun into space, mainly
in the form of electromagnetic waves. Only a
very small fraction (1/2,200,000,000) of this
energy reaches Earth. If the solar power in space
can be harnessed, the world could have an
inexhaustible supply of energy. Space-based
solar power has many benefits, including
24-hour uninterrupted supply and the possibility
of transferring the energy to ground-receiving
stations on Earth, which could then distribute it
to where it is needed.
Space-based solar power is still at the design
and exploration stage. Building solar power stations in space will present many challenges,
including the development of large-scale space
delivery systems and special materials for solar
panels and other equipment, performing maintenance while in orbit, and avoiding other spacecraft and space debris.
With space exploration increasing, aerospace
technologies advancing, and major innovations
in new forms of energy and materials taking
place, space-based solar power may soon become
reality. When it does, it will be a new and better
way to harness solar energy.
5 China’s Energy Revolution: The
Transition to Secondary Energy
5.1 Characteristics of Secondary
Energy Supply
5.1.1 Electricity
(1) Electricity is becoming more important
Economic development increases the need for
energy and changes the end-user demand structure. High-quality energy carriers like electricity
will
gradually
replace
high-pollution,
non-renewable fossil fuels. According to BP
Energy Outlook 2017, by 2035 about two-thirds
of new global energy consumption will be power
generation. Electricity will also play a major role
in China’s future energy system. Electricity’s
share of China’s end-user energy demand is
forecast to increase from 20% in 2015 to 25% in
2020, 32% in 2030 and more than 50% in 2050.
Replacing coal and oil with electricity and
increasing the capacity of long-distance power
transmission are two important changes in China’s future energy system. Electricity will replace
coal fuel in industry, agriculture, buildings and
homes, specifically in industrial boilers and kilns
and in household heating and cooking. This will
reduce the use of scattered coal across sectors and
significantly increase the conversion of coal into
electricity. The electrification of vehicles, rail and
irrigation will be vigorously developed to reduce
oil dependency. Ultra-high voltage power transmission lines will be built to transmit thermal,
wind and solar power in west and north China, and
hydropower from south-west China, to east and
central China at scale. This will help optimise the
energy mix, improve power availability across
regions, control thermal power construction and
pollution emissions in east and central China, and
reduce haze in eastern parts of the country.
(2) Clean and efficient coal-fired power
generation
The share of installed coal power capacity and
coal power output will continue to fall. Taking
into account China’s economic and social
154
W. Xiaoming et al.
the energy equivalent of double the current global energy consumption. But ocean energy has
disadvantages as well, such as instability, low
energy density, harsh operating conditions and
poor commercial viability.
China has a vast coastline, which means
abundant marine energy. Currently, marine
power generation technology is still under
research and experiment, in particular how to
transform marine energy into reliable and easily
accessible energy carriers like electricity. As
marine energy technologies progress, it is
expected to become an important component of
China’s future energy system.
4.3.4 Space-Based Solar Power:
Exploration
The sun is the original source of most types of
energy developed and used by humans. Solar
energy radiates from the sun into space, mainly
in the form of electromagnetic waves. Only a
very small fraction (1/2,200,000,000) of this
energy reaches Earth. If the solar power in space
can be harnessed, the world could have an
inexhaustible supply of energy. Space-based
solar power has many benefits, including
24-hour uninterrupted supply and the possibility
of transferring the energy to ground-receiving
stations on Earth, which could then distribute it
to where it is needed.
Space-based solar power is still at the design
and exploration stage. Building solar power stations in space will present many challenges,
including the development of large-scale space
delivery systems and special materials for solar
panels and other equipment, performing maintenance while in orbit, and avoiding other spacecraft and space debris.
With space exploration increasing, aerospace
technologies advancing, and major innovations
in new forms of energy and materials taking
place, space-based solar power may soon become
reality. When it does, it will be a new and better
way to harness solar energy.
5 China’s Energy Revolution: The
Transition to Secondary Energy
5.1 Characteristics of Secondary
Energy Supply
5.1.1 Electricity
(1) Electricity is becoming more important
Economic development increases the need for
energy and changes the end-user demand structure. High-quality energy carriers like electricity
will
gradually
replace
high-pollution,
non-renewable fossil fuels. According to BP
Energy Outlook 2017, by 2035 about two-thirds
of new global energy consumption will be power
generation. Electricity will also play a major role
in China’s future energy system. Electricity’s
share of China’s end-user energy demand is
forecast to increase from 20% in 2015 to 25% in
2020, 32% in 2030 and more than 50% in 2050.
Replacing coal and oil with electricity and
increasing the capacity of long-distance power
transmission are two important changes in China’s future energy system. Electricity will replace
coal fuel in industry, agriculture, buildings and
homes, specifically in industrial boilers and kilns
and in household heating and cooking. This will
reduce the use of scattered coal across sectors and
significantly increase the conversion of coal into
electricity. The electrification of vehicles, rail and
irrigation will be vigorously developed to reduce
oil dependency. Ultra-high voltage power transmission lines will be built to transmit thermal,
wind and solar power in west and north China, and
hydropower from south-west China, to east and
central China at scale. This will help optimise the
energy mix, improve power availability across
regions, control thermal power construction and
pollution emissions in east and central China, and
reduce haze in eastern parts of the country.
(2) Clean and efficient coal-fired power
generation
The share of installed coal power capacity and
coal power output will continue to fall. Taking
into account China’s economic and social
154
W. Xiaoming et al.