Special Report 1: A Study of China’s
Energy Supply Revolution
Wang Xiaoming, Nie Shangyou and Wang Yunshi
1 Definition Implications
of the Energy Revolution
1.1 Elements of the Energy
Revolution
1.1.1 Defining the Energy Revolution
Energy supply goes through significant change
as production and productivity evolve. When an
energy revolution occurs it can drive social
development and move society forward.
Scientists and research institutes define energy
revolution differently. Here are four examples:
• “The purpose of a revolution in energy production is to accelerate the transition away
from fossil fuels to clean and low-carbon
energy, and to accelerate the growth of nuclear
energy, renewables and natural gas in the primary energy consumption mix in China.”
1
• “The heart of the energy revolution is to
improve efficiency and societal benefits.
Restrictions limiting environmental impacts
should be the red lines for energy development and investment to enable a clean and
low-carbon energy economy to thrive.”
2
• “The energy revolution makes fundamental
changes to the energy mix and energy industry.
The excessively high cost of developing and
using the predominant types of primary
energy, and the mismatch between the benefits
they provide and the negative impacts they
make, drive innovation and the substitution of
new energy carriers for old ones.”
3
• “Energy revolution is the evolution of the
energy system by society. Unlike social and
political revolutions, energy revolution is
DRC Team Lead of Special Report 1:
Wang Xiaoming from the Research Department of
Industrial Economy, DRC of the State Council of China.
Shell Team Lead of Special Report 1:
Nie Shangyou and Professor Wang Yunshi from
University of California, Davis, USA.
Contributors:
Guo Jiaofeng from DRC of the State Council of China;
Liu Bing and Zhang Wenqiang from Shanghai AILNG
Energy Technology Co., Ltd.; Shi Shude from the
Research Department of Management and Consulting,
State Grid Energy Research Institute Co., Ltd.; Yang
Guang from the Energy Research Institute, National
Development and Reform Commission; Li Jifeng from
the State Information Center, Government of China;
Zeng Ming, Wang Yuqing and Long Zhuhan from the
North China Electric Power University, Beijing; and
Feng Yujia from Tsinghua University, Beijing.
W. Xiaoming (&)
Research Department of Industrial Economy, DRC
of the State Council of China, Beijing, China
N. Shangyou Á W. Yunshi
University of California, Davis, USA
e-mail: Shangyou.Nie@shell.com
W. Yunshi
e-mail: yunwang@ucdavis.edu
1
Hua Ben, Urbanization—the Main Battlefield for Energy
Revolution, in China and Foreign Energy, Issue 4, 2013.
2
Zhou Dadi, Improvement in Efficiency and Benefits—the
Core of Energy Revolution.
3
Han Xingwang, A Discussion on the Elements of Energy
Revolution, in Citizen and Law, Issue 12, 2014.
© The Author(s) 2020
Shell International B.V. and the Development Research Center (DRC) of the State Council of the People’s
Republic of China (eds.), China’s Energy Revolution in the Context of the Global Energy Transition,
Advances in Oil and Gas Exploration & Production, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-40154-2_2
41
Energy Supply Revolution
Wang Xiaoming, Nie Shangyou and Wang Yunshi
1 Definition Implications
of the Energy Revolution
1.1 Elements of the Energy
Revolution
1.1.1 Defining the Energy Revolution
Energy supply goes through significant change
as production and productivity evolve. When an
energy revolution occurs it can drive social
development and move society forward.
Scientists and research institutes define energy
revolution differently. Here are four examples:
• “The purpose of a revolution in energy production is to accelerate the transition away
from fossil fuels to clean and low-carbon
energy, and to accelerate the growth of nuclear
energy, renewables and natural gas in the primary energy consumption mix in China.”
1
• “The heart of the energy revolution is to
improve efficiency and societal benefits.
Restrictions limiting environmental impacts
should be the red lines for energy development and investment to enable a clean and
low-carbon energy economy to thrive.”
2
• “The energy revolution makes fundamental
changes to the energy mix and energy industry.
The excessively high cost of developing and
using the predominant types of primary
energy, and the mismatch between the benefits
they provide and the negative impacts they
make, drive innovation and the substitution of
new energy carriers for old ones.”
3
• “Energy revolution is the evolution of the
energy system by society. Unlike social and
political revolutions, energy revolution is
DRC Team Lead of Special Report 1:
Wang Xiaoming from the Research Department of
Industrial Economy, DRC of the State Council of China.
Shell Team Lead of Special Report 1:
Nie Shangyou and Professor Wang Yunshi from
University of California, Davis, USA.
Contributors:
Guo Jiaofeng from DRC of the State Council of China;
Liu Bing and Zhang Wenqiang from Shanghai AILNG
Energy Technology Co., Ltd.; Shi Shude from the
Research Department of Management and Consulting,
State Grid Energy Research Institute Co., Ltd.; Yang
Guang from the Energy Research Institute, National
Development and Reform Commission; Li Jifeng from
the State Information Center, Government of China;
Zeng Ming, Wang Yuqing and Long Zhuhan from the
North China Electric Power University, Beijing; and
Feng Yujia from Tsinghua University, Beijing.
W. Xiaoming (&)
Research Department of Industrial Economy, DRC
of the State Council of China, Beijing, China
N. Shangyou Á W. Yunshi
University of California, Davis, USA
e-mail: Shangyou.Nie@shell.com
W. Yunshi
e-mail: yunwang@ucdavis.edu
1
Hua Ben, Urbanization—the Main Battlefield for Energy
Revolution, in China and Foreign Energy, Issue 4, 2013.
2
Zhou Dadi, Improvement in Efficiency and Benefits—the
Core of Energy Revolution.
3
Han Xingwang, A Discussion on the Elements of Energy
Revolution, in Citizen and Law, Issue 12, 2014.
© The Author(s) 2020
Shell International B.V. and the Development Research Center (DRC) of the State Council of the People’s
Republic of China (eds.), China’s Energy Revolution in the Context of the Global Energy Transition,
Advances in Oil and Gas Exploration & Production, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-40154-2_2
41