well as new technologies and system revolutions.
It is also the enabler of the Energy Internet. In
April 2016, the National Development and
Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National
Energy Administration (NEA) published their
Action Plan for Innovation in the Energy Technology Revolution (2016–30)
4 and their Roadmap for Major Innovation Actions in the Energy
Technology Revolution,
5 which launched a plan
to develop smart grid power transmission and
smart end-user devices.
To develop a smart grid, China will: (i) strive
to make breakthroughs in key technologies and
core equipment that it currently imports from
other countries, especially in the fields of direct
current, power electronics and renewable energy;
and (ii) develop a national and industry standards
system for smart grids as soon as possible to
support the building of smart grids.
3.6.2 Develop New Energy
Technologies
In wind power, China will work to achieve
breakthroughs in fields such as aerodynamics,
flow field analysis, load calculation, as well as
high-end technologies like large wind turbine
design, wind turbine bearings, and wind farm
control and pitch control systems. This will
address the country’s current weakness in conducting basic research on wind power and critical
wind power equipment.
In solar photovoltaic, China needs to significantly improve photovoltaic conversion efficiency and make breakthroughs in areas like
interdigitated back contact, heterojunction with
intrinsic thin layer cells, passivated emitter cells
and rear cell technology, metallisation wrap
through, bifacial modules and boost the efficiency of battery technologies.
In new energy technologies that have great
potential in the short and medium terms—such as
solar thermal power and ocean power—China
will continue to develop demonstration projects
to rapidly accumulate experience in planning,
design, construction, operation and management.
Such an approach will lay a solid foundation for
policy studies and the development of
industrial-scale technologies. It will also improve
international competitiveness and reduce costs.
3.6.3 Increase Support
for the Development
of Energy Storage
Technologies
Energy storage technologies are the key to the
electricity revolution. They are also at the cutting
edge and the site of fierce competition. Currently,
China sees severe wind, solar and hydro curtailment and nuclear power restriction, which result in
more than 100,000 GWh of wasted power output.
Energy storage is an important means to use currently wasted output and integrate unstable energy
supply and consumption. Technologies such as
physical and chemical energy storage, hydrogen
fuel cells and heat storage are at the forefront.
Ultimately, one or two of these technologies will
survive the competition and grow.
3.6.4 Prioritise Nuclear Power
Development
Nuclear power is indispensable to China’s
development and one of the energy pillars China
must secure strategically. To this end, China will:
(i) invest more in scientific research to enhance
basic capabilities in nuclear technologies; and
(ii) establish scientifically based decision-making
and interaction mechanisms to win the public’s
recognition of the importance of nuclear power
and enable the safe development of nuclear
energy in China.
3.6.5 Make Unconventional Gas
a Major Component of New
Gas Capacity
China will increase its collaborative R&D efforts
with overseas organisations to innovate advanced
technologies, especially exploration and production technologies suitable for China’s unconventional oil and gas resources. This will speed
up the development and scale-deployment of
4
NDRC and NEA, Action Plan for Innovation in the
Energy Technology Revolution (2016–30), 2016, p.6.
5
NDRC and NEA, Roadmap for Major Innovation
Actions in the Energy Technology Revolution, 2016,
pp.67–69.
Overview: High-Quality Energy for High-Quality Growth …
25
It is also the enabler of the Energy Internet. In
April 2016, the National Development and
Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National
Energy Administration (NEA) published their
Action Plan for Innovation in the Energy Technology Revolution (2016–30)
4 and their Roadmap for Major Innovation Actions in the Energy
Technology Revolution,
5 which launched a plan
to develop smart grid power transmission and
smart end-user devices.
To develop a smart grid, China will: (i) strive
to make breakthroughs in key technologies and
core equipment that it currently imports from
other countries, especially in the fields of direct
current, power electronics and renewable energy;
and (ii) develop a national and industry standards
system for smart grids as soon as possible to
support the building of smart grids.
3.6.2 Develop New Energy
Technologies
In wind power, China will work to achieve
breakthroughs in fields such as aerodynamics,
flow field analysis, load calculation, as well as
high-end technologies like large wind turbine
design, wind turbine bearings, and wind farm
control and pitch control systems. This will
address the country’s current weakness in conducting basic research on wind power and critical
wind power equipment.
In solar photovoltaic, China needs to significantly improve photovoltaic conversion efficiency and make breakthroughs in areas like
interdigitated back contact, heterojunction with
intrinsic thin layer cells, passivated emitter cells
and rear cell technology, metallisation wrap
through, bifacial modules and boost the efficiency of battery technologies.
In new energy technologies that have great
potential in the short and medium terms—such as
solar thermal power and ocean power—China
will continue to develop demonstration projects
to rapidly accumulate experience in planning,
design, construction, operation and management.
Such an approach will lay a solid foundation for
policy studies and the development of
industrial-scale technologies. It will also improve
international competitiveness and reduce costs.
3.6.3 Increase Support
for the Development
of Energy Storage
Technologies
Energy storage technologies are the key to the
electricity revolution. They are also at the cutting
edge and the site of fierce competition. Currently,
China sees severe wind, solar and hydro curtailment and nuclear power restriction, which result in
more than 100,000 GWh of wasted power output.
Energy storage is an important means to use currently wasted output and integrate unstable energy
supply and consumption. Technologies such as
physical and chemical energy storage, hydrogen
fuel cells and heat storage are at the forefront.
Ultimately, one or two of these technologies will
survive the competition and grow.
3.6.4 Prioritise Nuclear Power
Development
Nuclear power is indispensable to China’s
development and one of the energy pillars China
must secure strategically. To this end, China will:
(i) invest more in scientific research to enhance
basic capabilities in nuclear technologies; and
(ii) establish scientifically based decision-making
and interaction mechanisms to win the public’s
recognition of the importance of nuclear power
and enable the safe development of nuclear
energy in China.
3.6.5 Make Unconventional Gas
a Major Component of New
Gas Capacity
China will increase its collaborative R&D efforts
with overseas organisations to innovate advanced
technologies, especially exploration and production technologies suitable for China’s unconventional oil and gas resources. This will speed
up the development and scale-deployment of
4
NDRC and NEA, Action Plan for Innovation in the
Energy Technology Revolution (2016–30), 2016, p.6.
5
NDRC and NEA, Roadmap for Major Innovation
Actions in the Energy Technology Revolution, 2016,
pp.67–69.
Overview: High-Quality Energy for High-Quality Growth …
25