a clean energy carrier, is another of China’s
energy priorities. China’s proven gas reserves are
increasing rapidly, and exploration of natural gas
hydrates has achieved major breakthroughs. As
technology and innovation advance, natural gas
has great potential to partly replace coal and oil.
(3) Environmental constraints are driving the
energy revolution
As Wang Jinnan, Vice Director and Chief
Engineer of the Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning points out, China tops the world
in terms of emissions of almost all air pollutants,
including carbon dioxide. Despite measures to
control and prevent pollution, thick haze often
hangs over large parts of China. Along with
almost 200 other signatories, China ratified the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, which took effect in December
2016. Air pollution is inextricably linked to
energy supply. In the face of unprecedented
pressure, the need to protect the environment
forces the energy revolution to accelerate the
transition to clean, low-carbon energy.
1.3 Evaluating the Energy Revolution
As energy production transits from coal to low
carbon, the latter’s share of the energy mix
becomes a key criterion for judging the success of
the energy revolution. However, a revolution cannot be achieved overnight. Rather, it is an evolving
process that takes place under certain conditions. It
is influenced by specific factors and has significant
impacts on energy supply in certain geographies.
And it can create profound change over time. To
decide whether the changes China is experiencing
can be considered an energy supply revolution, we
look at four countries that have undergone energy
revolutions: the UK, France, Japan and Germany.
1.3.1 Energy Revolutions in Four
Countries
The UK’s energy revolution started with the
discovery of North Sea oil in the 1960s. In 1973,
coal made up 84% of the country’s energy
production and oil accounted for 44% of total
energy consumption. As the production capacity
of UK North Sea hydrocarbons expanded, the
share of oil and gas in energy production and
consumption rose rapidly, while that of coal
decreased. By 1983, the UK was one of the
world’s top 10 oil producing countries and an
important oil and gas exporter across the globe.
At a time when overall energy demand was
stable, the share of gas in the energy mix
increased rapidly in the UK, becoming a major
alternative to coal.
Japan’s energy revolution can be clearly
divided into three stages based on energy mix
share. Stage 1 is changes in the supply of primary
energy to the power industry, reflected by a
higher share for oil and a smaller share for coal.
In 1973, the first oil crisis spurred a transition
from oil to gas and nuclear power, which started
stage 2 of Japan’s energy revolution. Use of gas
in the energy mix grew from 1.6 to 19.2%, and
that of nuclear power from 0.6 to 11.8%. Thanks
to reduced costs and improvements in equipment
efficiency, the use of coal rose from 16.9% to
22.6%. Following the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011, Japan initiated stage 3 of its energy
revolution by phasing out nuclear power.
In France, oil and coal made up a high share
of the energy mix before the energy transition.
As a result of the first oil shock, Prime Minister
Pierre Messmer announced a large nuclear power
development programme (the Messmer Plan) in
1974, which included 13 1,000-megawatt nuclear
power plants. This not only completely changed
France’s electricity sector, it made France a
major force in nuclear power and related technologies. Currently, nuclear makes up 75% of
total power output in France, which is a substantial contribution to France’s energy selfsufficiency.
Germany passed the Renewable Energy
Sources Act in 2000, pioneering the transition
from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Coal and
nuclear power were the major sources of energy
in Germany at that time. According to Stephan
Kohler, former head of the German Energy
Agency and director of the Center of
Sino-German Renewable Energy Partnership, the
Special Report 1: A Study of China’s Energy Supply Revolution
45
energy priorities. China’s proven gas reserves are
increasing rapidly, and exploration of natural gas
hydrates has achieved major breakthroughs. As
technology and innovation advance, natural gas
has great potential to partly replace coal and oil.
(3) Environmental constraints are driving the
energy revolution
As Wang Jinnan, Vice Director and Chief
Engineer of the Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning points out, China tops the world
in terms of emissions of almost all air pollutants,
including carbon dioxide. Despite measures to
control and prevent pollution, thick haze often
hangs over large parts of China. Along with
almost 200 other signatories, China ratified the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, which took effect in December
2016. Air pollution is inextricably linked to
energy supply. In the face of unprecedented
pressure, the need to protect the environment
forces the energy revolution to accelerate the
transition to clean, low-carbon energy.
1.3 Evaluating the Energy Revolution
As energy production transits from coal to low
carbon, the latter’s share of the energy mix
becomes a key criterion for judging the success of
the energy revolution. However, a revolution cannot be achieved overnight. Rather, it is an evolving
process that takes place under certain conditions. It
is influenced by specific factors and has significant
impacts on energy supply in certain geographies.
And it can create profound change over time. To
decide whether the changes China is experiencing
can be considered an energy supply revolution, we
look at four countries that have undergone energy
revolutions: the UK, France, Japan and Germany.
1.3.1 Energy Revolutions in Four
Countries
The UK’s energy revolution started with the
discovery of North Sea oil in the 1960s. In 1973,
coal made up 84% of the country’s energy
production and oil accounted for 44% of total
energy consumption. As the production capacity
of UK North Sea hydrocarbons expanded, the
share of oil and gas in energy production and
consumption rose rapidly, while that of coal
decreased. By 1983, the UK was one of the
world’s top 10 oil producing countries and an
important oil and gas exporter across the globe.
At a time when overall energy demand was
stable, the share of gas in the energy mix
increased rapidly in the UK, becoming a major
alternative to coal.
Japan’s energy revolution can be clearly
divided into three stages based on energy mix
share. Stage 1 is changes in the supply of primary
energy to the power industry, reflected by a
higher share for oil and a smaller share for coal.
In 1973, the first oil crisis spurred a transition
from oil to gas and nuclear power, which started
stage 2 of Japan’s energy revolution. Use of gas
in the energy mix grew from 1.6 to 19.2%, and
that of nuclear power from 0.6 to 11.8%. Thanks
to reduced costs and improvements in equipment
efficiency, the use of coal rose from 16.9% to
22.6%. Following the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011, Japan initiated stage 3 of its energy
revolution by phasing out nuclear power.
In France, oil and coal made up a high share
of the energy mix before the energy transition.
As a result of the first oil shock, Prime Minister
Pierre Messmer announced a large nuclear power
development programme (the Messmer Plan) in
1974, which included 13 1,000-megawatt nuclear
power plants. This not only completely changed
France’s electricity sector, it made France a
major force in nuclear power and related technologies. Currently, nuclear makes up 75% of
total power output in France, which is a substantial contribution to France’s energy selfsufficiency.
Germany passed the Renewable Energy
Sources Act in 2000, pioneering the transition
from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Coal and
nuclear power were the major sources of energy
in Germany at that time. According to Stephan
Kohler, former head of the German Energy
Agency and director of the Center of
Sino-German Renewable Energy Partnership, the
Special Report 1: A Study of China’s Energy Supply Revolution
45