DOE: U.S., China Collaborate to Meet Global Energy Demand, Improve Environmental Quality
December 16, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS
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The cooperation spans power generation, efficient buildings, sustainable transportation, emissions-free nuclear power and clean fossil fuels.
The U.S. and China are the world's largest energy consumers and are expected to remain the top two oil consumers in the world for the foreseeable future. China is likely to experience very large growth rates for both its economy and energy consumption over the next two decades.
Both governments need to take positive action to reduce uncertainty in the market and encourage investment. Only by providing clear signals to the energy industry can the partnership secure future energy needs. According to DOE, both governments should work together to increase energy security through:
- Fostering transparent and efficient energy markets.
- Lowering trade barriers, particularly for clean energy and other environmental goods and services.
- Supporting measures to increase energy efficiency.
- Providing consistent policies for investment in oil, gas, coal and renewables.
The U.S. and China's Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) Action Plans
The U.S. and China have five action plans developed under the SED Ten Year Energy and Environment Cooperation Framework. DOE took the lead in working with China to develop two energy-related action plans under the framework, one on clean, efficient and secure electricity production and transmission and the other on clean and efficient transportation.
Under these action plans, the U.S. and China will build on past cooperation, such as promoting biofuels production and its use in transportation and in improving energy efficiency through industrial efficiency assessments.
The action plans also include helping China to achieve low sulfur fuels for both gasoline and diesel engines and the introduction of more stringent emission standards in China for the transportation sector.
The U.S. continues to work with China through the SED, Energy Policy Dialogue, Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate and other bilateral and multilateral forums towards confronting our global energy challenges, including building efficiency, transportation, electricity, renewable and alternative energy sources and energy diversification, in a collaborative, environmentally effective and economically sustainable approach.
Examples include conducting on-site industrial energy assessments, energy training at the Mayors Training Center, building codes and sustainable reconstruction in earthquake zones.
Past, Current and Future U.S.-China Energy Efficiency Collaboration
DOE continues to work with its Chinese counterparts to conduct energy efficiency assessments of buildings and industry factories to:
- Improve energy use and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
- Expand cooperation on biofuels production and use.
- Promote large-scale deployment of electric-drive and fuel cell technologies for transportation.
Through U.S.-China partnerships and discussions, the two countries will continue to make progress in all of these areas while sustaining economic growth, said DOE.
The Path Forward
The world needs more energy supplies of all types, including hydrocarbons. Diversity of supplies, suppliers and supply routes is a key component to enhancing global energy security.
U.S.-China partnerships and bilateral discussions will drive progress toward reducing energy consumption and cutting greenhouse gas emissions and promoting more efficient energy markets, said DOE.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).