(1) Increase investment in clean energy R&D
Government should play a leading role in
encouraging investment in clean energy research
and development, providing companies with the
policy support they need. Reducing production
costs through technical innovation is the key to
clean energy development. Clean energy R&D
should deliver technologies and products with
proprietary intellectual property rights. It should
feature collaboration with industry, universities
and research institutions, and support the development of a clean energy industry.
(2) Encourage investment in energy storage
and support facilities
Policies encouraging investment in energy storage will help further clean energy development
and grid connection. Government authorities can
introduce a compensation mechanism for energy
storage system operators to provide ancillary
services and encourage clean energy providers to
install energy storage systems. This will better
facilitate grid connection and maximise use of
clean energy generation.
(3) Implement environment-related tax
incentive policies
Levying an environmental tax is a relatively
common practice to promote clean energy development. It enables government to discourage
emissions and discharges through taxes. A pollution tax could be levied on companies that discharge pollutants during production. It would
dissuade
high
energy-consuming
and
high-pollution companies from using conventional energy. This will reduce energy consumption, encourage the use of clean energy, and help
protect the environment. A proportion of the taxes
levied could be used for pollution control and part
of them to fund clean energy development.
(4) Improve clean energy grid connection and
consumption
Implementing the policy that prioritises clean
energy for grid connection and consumption
plays an important role in clean energy development. The policy is recommended for implementation at local level. Local energy planning
authorities can measure their power consumption
and peak shaving capability and then identify the
clean energy quota that can be connected to the
grid and consumed through bidding.
7.3.2 Supply-Side Reemployment
The energy revolution will improve the overall
employment structure, but it will also generate
unemployment. Given the multiple effects of the
energy revolution on employment, policies and
proposals on how companies should reposition
surplus workers and government solve unemployment are necessary.
(1) Companies should create channels to
reposition surplus workers
In supply-side reforms, capacity cutting will
inevitably cause unemployment. The relevant
enterprises should think about how to actively and
properly reposition surplus workers through several channels, thus gradually alleviating unemployment by region and sector. The repositioning
of surplus workers in companies facing overcapacity should begin by safeguarding workers’
rights and interests. The channels for repositioning surplus workers should be expanded to
include internal job transfer, starting a business,
early retirement and public-service jobs.
Government will provide the relevant support
policies for companies that hire surplus workers
laid off by capacity cutting. Surplus workers who
want to start a business should be offered the
chance to enter a business incubator. For surplus
workers who are difficult to reposition,
public-service jobs will be a priority.
In the context of the energy revolution, the
channels to address surplus worker reemployment are shown in Fig. 62.
(2) How government should address
reemployment
In the short term, supply-side reforms will
inevitably impact adversely workers in some
regions and sectors. In the long term, a structural
imbalance in employment will be more evident
than an imbalance between supply and demand.
To ensure a smooth and orderly employment
market, labour demand should be optimised in
178
W. Xiaoming et al.
Government should play a leading role in
encouraging investment in clean energy research
and development, providing companies with the
policy support they need. Reducing production
costs through technical innovation is the key to
clean energy development. Clean energy R&D
should deliver technologies and products with
proprietary intellectual property rights. It should
feature collaboration with industry, universities
and research institutions, and support the development of a clean energy industry.
(2) Encourage investment in energy storage
and support facilities
Policies encouraging investment in energy storage will help further clean energy development
and grid connection. Government authorities can
introduce a compensation mechanism for energy
storage system operators to provide ancillary
services and encourage clean energy providers to
install energy storage systems. This will better
facilitate grid connection and maximise use of
clean energy generation.
(3) Implement environment-related tax
incentive policies
Levying an environmental tax is a relatively
common practice to promote clean energy development. It enables government to discourage
emissions and discharges through taxes. A pollution tax could be levied on companies that discharge pollutants during production. It would
dissuade
high
energy-consuming
and
high-pollution companies from using conventional energy. This will reduce energy consumption, encourage the use of clean energy, and help
protect the environment. A proportion of the taxes
levied could be used for pollution control and part
of them to fund clean energy development.
(4) Improve clean energy grid connection and
consumption
Implementing the policy that prioritises clean
energy for grid connection and consumption
plays an important role in clean energy development. The policy is recommended for implementation at local level. Local energy planning
authorities can measure their power consumption
and peak shaving capability and then identify the
clean energy quota that can be connected to the
grid and consumed through bidding.
7.3.2 Supply-Side Reemployment
The energy revolution will improve the overall
employment structure, but it will also generate
unemployment. Given the multiple effects of the
energy revolution on employment, policies and
proposals on how companies should reposition
surplus workers and government solve unemployment are necessary.
(1) Companies should create channels to
reposition surplus workers
In supply-side reforms, capacity cutting will
inevitably cause unemployment. The relevant
enterprises should think about how to actively and
properly reposition surplus workers through several channels, thus gradually alleviating unemployment by region and sector. The repositioning
of surplus workers in companies facing overcapacity should begin by safeguarding workers’
rights and interests. The channels for repositioning surplus workers should be expanded to
include internal job transfer, starting a business,
early retirement and public-service jobs.
Government will provide the relevant support
policies for companies that hire surplus workers
laid off by capacity cutting. Surplus workers who
want to start a business should be offered the
chance to enter a business incubator. For surplus
workers who are difficult to reposition,
public-service jobs will be a priority.
In the context of the energy revolution, the
channels to address surplus worker reemployment are shown in Fig. 62.
(2) How government should address
reemployment
In the short term, supply-side reforms will
inevitably impact adversely workers in some
regions and sectors. In the long term, a structural
imbalance in employment will be more evident
than an imbalance between supply and demand.
To ensure a smooth and orderly employment
market, labour demand should be optimised in
178
W. Xiaoming et al.