exchange. The emergence of desktop and laptop
computers makes the computer an indispensable
tool in business and in people’s lives. With the
rise of smartphones and tablets, mobility expands
the Internet, providing a broader and more convenient channel for people to obtain information.
The Internet of things (IoT) greatly accelerates
the informatisation process with its application in
multiple fields, including intelligent transport,
environmental protection, government, public
security, disaster forecasting, smart homes, personal health monitoring, lighting control and
intelligence gathering. These advances push the
world into the era of big data. A digital world
parallel to the physical world is created around
the behaviour of individuals and organisations. It
is a world in which information is stored and
analysed and information-based predictions
made. This capability will further reshape how
we live, produce and consume.
4.1.2 The Impact of IT on Energy
Demand
IT has many impacts on energy demand.
First, IT affects energy demand. As big data
scales up, more and more energy-hungry data
centres are needed to process and store the data.
To address the high energy consumption of big
data management systems, new energy-efficient
hardware, powered by new and renewable
energy technologies, is needed.
Second, the impacts and opportunities generated by the deep integration of new-generation IT
and energy technologies enable the Energy
Internet: IoT, cloud computing, big data and the
blockchain merge with renewable power generation, decentralised energy resources and the
smart grid. By connecting various systems like
transport, power and natural gas with the Internet
information system, the Energy Internet can
connect multiple energy carriers, such as electricity, heating, cooling and gas across the entire
value chain, from production, transmission and
storage to consumption. This will help increase
the share of renewable energy production and
supply, and eventually enable a harmonious
energy supply ecosystem based on renewables
and driven by IT. Some developed economies in
Europe and the Americas have already prioritised
the Energy Internet. For example, Germany has
developed the E-Energy programme to create a
new energy network of digital interconnection,
computer control and monitoring across the
entire energy supply system. Blockchain technology will also drive development of the Energy
Internet, opening up new applications and business models in energy generation, transmission,
distribution, use and storage, and reshaping
energy consumption patterns.
4.2 The Impact of IT on Household
Energy Demand Modes
Household energy consumption accounts for
10% of China’s total energy, the second largest
category after industry. Residential energy consumption affects not only people’s lives and
well-being, but the environment and China’s
carbon emissions as well. With household energy
consumption rising, especially in urban areas,
and energy infrastructure improving, IT can play
a crucial role in changing household patterns of
energy consumption.
4.2.1 Changing Patterns in Household
Energy Demand
The ubiquity of the Internet makes it easier for
people to consume energy and spend more time
at home. The more they are at home, the more
energy they consume—for household appliances,
heating or cooling, or for surfing the Internet to
buy non-energy-related products and services.
In the Internet age, people can pay their
energy bills and buy almost any product online,
which makes consumption easier. In transport,
the emergence of ride-hailing apps like Didi
Chuxing makes it easier for people to get around.
If the Internet stage of informatisation makes
people’s energy consumption more convenient,
then the next stage—big data—makes it intelligent. Household energy management is easier
and more efficient, and energy consumption
greener.
The Energy Internet centres on the large-scale
deployment of renewable energy, especially
Special Report 2: Research on China’s Energy Demand Revolution
261
computers makes the computer an indispensable
tool in business and in people’s lives. With the
rise of smartphones and tablets, mobility expands
the Internet, providing a broader and more convenient channel for people to obtain information.
The Internet of things (IoT) greatly accelerates
the informatisation process with its application in
multiple fields, including intelligent transport,
environmental protection, government, public
security, disaster forecasting, smart homes, personal health monitoring, lighting control and
intelligence gathering. These advances push the
world into the era of big data. A digital world
parallel to the physical world is created around
the behaviour of individuals and organisations. It
is a world in which information is stored and
analysed and information-based predictions
made. This capability will further reshape how
we live, produce and consume.
4.1.2 The Impact of IT on Energy
Demand
IT has many impacts on energy demand.
First, IT affects energy demand. As big data
scales up, more and more energy-hungry data
centres are needed to process and store the data.
To address the high energy consumption of big
data management systems, new energy-efficient
hardware, powered by new and renewable
energy technologies, is needed.
Second, the impacts and opportunities generated by the deep integration of new-generation IT
and energy technologies enable the Energy
Internet: IoT, cloud computing, big data and the
blockchain merge with renewable power generation, decentralised energy resources and the
smart grid. By connecting various systems like
transport, power and natural gas with the Internet
information system, the Energy Internet can
connect multiple energy carriers, such as electricity, heating, cooling and gas across the entire
value chain, from production, transmission and
storage to consumption. This will help increase
the share of renewable energy production and
supply, and eventually enable a harmonious
energy supply ecosystem based on renewables
and driven by IT. Some developed economies in
Europe and the Americas have already prioritised
the Energy Internet. For example, Germany has
developed the E-Energy programme to create a
new energy network of digital interconnection,
computer control and monitoring across the
entire energy supply system. Blockchain technology will also drive development of the Energy
Internet, opening up new applications and business models in energy generation, transmission,
distribution, use and storage, and reshaping
energy consumption patterns.
4.2 The Impact of IT on Household
Energy Demand Modes
Household energy consumption accounts for
10% of China’s total energy, the second largest
category after industry. Residential energy consumption affects not only people’s lives and
well-being, but the environment and China’s
carbon emissions as well. With household energy
consumption rising, especially in urban areas,
and energy infrastructure improving, IT can play
a crucial role in changing household patterns of
energy consumption.
4.2.1 Changing Patterns in Household
Energy Demand
The ubiquity of the Internet makes it easier for
people to consume energy and spend more time
at home. The more they are at home, the more
energy they consume—for household appliances,
heating or cooling, or for surfing the Internet to
buy non-energy-related products and services.
In the Internet age, people can pay their
energy bills and buy almost any product online,
which makes consumption easier. In transport,
the emergence of ride-hailing apps like Didi
Chuxing makes it easier for people to get around.
If the Internet stage of informatisation makes
people’s energy consumption more convenient,
then the next stage—big data—makes it intelligent. Household energy management is easier
and more efficient, and energy consumption
greener.
The Energy Internet centres on the large-scale
deployment of renewable energy, especially
Special Report 2: Research on China’s Energy Demand Revolution
261