Foreword

Energy serves as an indispensable material basis for modern society, and the energy industry is a vital basic industry that must be prioritized in the process of industrialization in all countries across the world. Today, industrialized countries have put in place their own energy supply system in line with local conditions concerning resources and geo-economics, boasting relatively higher per capita energy consumption. In comparison, the per capita energy consumption is generally lower in developing countries where a modern energy supply system is mostly in absence and the universal energy service not adequate enough. As the technologies for development, production, conversion, supply, and consumption of energy and resources were largely monopolized by developed countries in the past, most developing countries had to rely on imported energy equipment and faced great difficulties in developing independent energy industry and equipment manufacturing industry, which has been largely true even to the present day. How to develop an independent energy industry and meet the demand for energy in industrialization and household use? This is still a fundamental question to be answered by all countries in the world, developing countries in particular.

The traditional model of industrialization and the corresponding energy-intensive lifestyle relied on massive consumption of fossil energy and caused high emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, leading to global warming that gave rise to ecological and environmental problems which have posed a substantial risk to global ecological environment. Such energy system reliant on fossil energy needs to be transformed into low-carbon energy system as soon as possible. Under mounting pressure to transform the energy system in the world, developed countries should shift the fossil-energy-based consumption model into the low-carbon model, while developing countries need to speed up the construction of low-carbon energy system and improve energy services amid the double challenges of continuously enhancing the energy supply capacity and avoiding the traditional development path dependent on fossil energy.

China is the largest and fastest-growing developing country, boasting the biggest population and second largest economy in the world. When the People’s Republic of China was established in 1949, there was basically no modern energy industry, extremely low energy consumption and almost zero capacity for energy equipment manufacturing. Thanks to unremitting efforts over the past nearly seventy years, especially almost four decades of breakneck growth, China has grown into the world’s largest energy producer and consumer. In addition to thriving industries in coal, oil, natural gas, hydropower, nuclear, wind power, solar power, and other renewable energy resources, China has set up the largest power supply system in the world. China has equipped itself not only with a full-fledged energy equipment manufacturing industry, but also with the great capacity for independent R&D, design, manufacturing, construction, and operation, boasting internationally advanced capacity for or even a leading position in the technological development, equipment manufacturing and engineering construction in some fields of energy industry. While adhering to the path of energy development under socialism with Chinese characteristics, China gives priority to the people’s consumption needs by striving to improve the universal service and delivering energy services to as many people as possible. Furthermore, this planet’s most populous country has already realized full coverage of electricity and other energy resources.

As the most populous country, China must take full advantage of domestic resources to develop its own energy supply system, instead of relying on imports. As the energy consumption gained momentum, oil and natural gas were developed on a larger scale, but coal with more abundant reserves inevitably became the main source of supply. The coal-based energy structure not only brought about environmental pollution and low efficiency, but also produced higher carbon intensity than the oil-and-gas-based energy structure in other countries. In response to climate change, all countries need to shift toward low-carbon economy and China is facing pressure in this regard. Having embarked on a new journey toward green and low-carbon economy, China will encounter more challenges and need more time to achieve success. In the process of strengthening energy conservation, developing low-carbon energy and advancing green and low-carbon economy, Chinese people have been united as one and gone into the forefront of developing low-carbon energy and blazing a path for low-carbon development.

Decades are but a brief moment in the history of human development, but mean a couple of generations for us contemporaries. Over the past decades, China has undergone dramatic changes in economy, society, urbanization, and industrialization. Such changes are beyond the imagination of most foreign friends, and even unfamiliar to the majority of young Chinese. A review of the energy development in China shall go some way to drawing on past experience, shedding some light on the shortcomings and regrets of the past, and accumulating more wisdom for future development. For readers interested in the status quo, history and process of energy development in China, this would be a rewarding experience to acquire knowledge by looking into the efforts, policies and measures adopted, and challenges overcome by China to make today’s remarkable achievements step by step.

Energy comes in great varieties and involves a wide range of industries and all aspects of economy and society. In the process of rapid energy development, China has kept revising policies in response to constantly changing situations. As people know more and better about energy, opinions are divided about the means for energy development in China. It’s not easy to give the full picture of the energy development process in China, and the heavily technical contents would only make it less riveting. Fortunately, the authors boast sufficient and profound understanding of the overall situation and process of the energy development in China, thanks to their years of research on national energy strategies and polices. Even so, they still had their difficult time trying to summarize and elaborate on the energy development process in China. Due to the time limit, the authors haven’t had the chance to solicit opinions from more people. Therefore, this book is the fruit of the limited knowledge and understanding of the authors.

We’re indebted to China Three Gorges Corporation, Shanghai Waigaoqiao No.3 Power Plant, Goldwind Sci & Tech Co., Ltd., Shenwu Technology Group Corporation, among others, for the information they provided for the book. The data in the book, unless as otherwise noted, is mostly from the materials and relevant research reports compiled by the Energy Research Institute of National Development and Reform Commission or China Energy Research Society. In addition, we consulted China Statistical Yearbook, China Energy Statistical Yearbook, BP Statistical Review of World Energy, energy statistical reports by the International Energy Agency, and others for reference. Thanks go out to them all.