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In this paper, we employ multi-region input-output model to investigate China's embodied energy trade in 1995-2009, and then we use hypothetical extraction method to explore the effect of Chinese foreign trade on the other countries or regions of the world after extracting the trade volume between China and the world. We find that China was a net export country of embodied energy, and there was pronounced discrepancy between the sectors in importing and exporting embodied energy, where the sector Electrical and Optical Equipment had the largest import and export in embodied energy. In 2009, China imported mainly from Korea and exported mainly to Japan. In addition, extracting trade from China and other countries not only influenced the embodied energy consumption of China but also consumption and trade of other countries. China's government should pay more attention to sector differences when adopting policies like trade tax rate, and enhance cooperation with other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to provide a more detailed picture of potential biomass energy production in the Chinese energy system towards 2030 and 2050. Biomass for bioenergy feedstocks comes from five sources, which are agricultural crop residues, forest residues and industrial wood waste, energy crops and woody crops, animal manure, and municipal solid waste. The potential biomass production is predicted based on the resource availability. In the process of identifying biomass resources production, assumptions are made regarding arable land, marginal land, crops yields, forest growth rate, and meat consumption and waste production. Four scenarios were designed to describe the potential biomass energy production to elaborate the role of biomass energy in the Chinese energy system in 2030. The assessment shows that under certain restrictions on land availability, the maximum potential biomass energy productions are estimated to be 18,833 and 24,901 PJ in 2030 and 2050. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the multiple-energy-source era, China must realize the clean and efficient use of coal. This article compares coal-based synthetic natural gas (SNG) technology and competitive alternatives for clean, efficient coal use with regard to energy efficiency, CO2emissions, water consumption, unit investment, and cost. It was found that coal-based SNG-and-power cogeneration without carbon capture (CC) is the most feasible for China at present. This study also analyzes the differences in the challenges faced by coal-based SNG plants between China and the US. Unlike the Great Plains Synfuels Plant in the US, coal-based SNG plants in China will remain strategically significant for decades because of high domestic demand and enduring natural gas prices. The findings in this paper indicate that projects as operational coal-based SNG-only plants in China cannot be implemented, but the coal-based SNG industry should continue developing. Coal-based SNG-and-power cogeneration technology can be a strategic choice for China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China’s energy consumption structure, which relies heavily on fossil fuels, has, on the one hand, weakened environmental sustainability at the national level, and also intensified the problem of climate change at the global level, on the other hand. It is therefore essential for policy-makers to adopt immediate measures to transfer to a trajectory of sustainable energy development with low carbon emissions. Using a decoupling index that describes the difference between energy consumption and economic development, this paper studied the process of decoupling in each province in China. Results showed that there was a phenomenon of weak decoupling in China as a whole, while North, Northeast, and East China have experienced rapid economic development and improved energy utilization efficiency, leading to a high level of decoupling. Neimenggu (Inner Mongolia) Province experienced both the highest energy consumption and economic growth, while Beijing and Guizhou Province showed the strongest decoupling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid growth of passenger vehicles considerably increases greenhouse gas emission and fuel consumption in China. This paper thereby intends to analyze the potentials of the mitigation of energy use and environmental emission in China’s road passenger transportation sector by assessing two available approaches, i.e. biofuel and hybrid vehicle strategies. It was found that biofuel is effective for emission reduction in only three subsubsectors. A synthesis strategy is thereby proposed to meet the state policy goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy issue is always an important factor in sustainable housing developments. Over the years, a number of energy-saving techniques have been developed to reduce consumption of primary energy and utilise renewable energy in architectural designs. However, the real situation regarding energy-efficient buildings has improved rather slowly during the recent decades, both in the developing and developed countries. Hammarby Sjostad is one of the largest urban housing developments in Europe but is built to standards twice as strict as those currently being applied for new housing, including energy consumption. Eco-villages are small-scale housing developments, usually in the suburbs, where residents also try to create highly specific ecological environments. There are two basic paradigms to solve the current housing problem: top-down (provider paradigm) or bottom-up (support paradigm). This paper analyses the differences between these, especially from an energy efficiency perspective. Housing development is a gaming process between diverse stakeholders. All the stakeholders try to choose different actions in an attempt to maximise their returns. If the proposals made by the architects and engineers are not consistent with the interests of other stakeholders, they have little chance of being applied in actual projects. This paper describes systematic development strategies for the energy-efficient housing project Jun Lin Zijin, a Chinese residential and commercial project furthering the progress of design and construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions without hampering economic growth is a significant issue for China. Taking into account environmental sustainability principles, this study analysed the energy efficiency of 30 regions of China for the period 2002-2007. By employing a data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach, this study included undesirable CO2 and SO2 outputs and the desirable GDP output in the model. Empirical outcomes demonstrated that the overall average technical efficiency (TE) of China is 0.843, indicating a 15.70% input inefficiency. Among three geographic areas, the east has the highest technical efficiency, with the highest ability to set up clean-burning power plants based on best technology available. Performance in the west is less good because of much inefficient technology. Finally, the study demonstrates detailed management implications of the BCG matrix. The most important contribution of this paper is a detailed demonstration of an energy performance evaluation mechanism for China. The valuable results and insights gained can be equally effectively applied to studies in other developing countries facing the same gaseous emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy consumption increases with urbanisation. This paper developed evaluation indicators and calculations for energy consumption changes, and advances a new indicator, Energy Consumption Unit Geometric Average (ECUGA) elasticity coefficient and its calculation. The ECUGA elasticity coefficient can explore energy consumption changes and make comparisons among countries at different urbanisation stages. The general trend of energy consumption changes is summarised at different urbanisation stages based on values for 45 countries. For China, the ECUGA elasticity coefficient first increases and then decreases, with the peak of urbanisation at 40% to 50%. China's ECUGA elasticity coefficient for 1978-2005 and 2010-2050 differed from the general trend, with a decrease until urbanisation reached 40%, followed by a rapid increase at 40% to 50%, and then a decrease from 50% to 80%. Although the increase and decrease of China's ECUGA elasticity coefficient is faster than in other countries, the values are always lower than the average for these countries at corresponding urbanisation stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial SO2 is the most important air pollutant in China. This paper outlines the technological impacts on industrial SO2 emissions in China in terms of: amount, intensity, structure of energy consumption and structure of energy-intensive industries. It shows that industrial SO emissions have linear growth alongside increases in energy consumption, particularly the rise in coal consumption. The contribution of technological factors to decreases in the intensity of energy consumption is 25%, while the structural factor is 75%. The power industry accounts tor 52.6% of total industrial SO2. Optimisation of the structure of energy consumption can reduce SO2 emissions by 1.98 million tonnes per year. We propose the following technological strategies for industrial SO2 abatement: adjustment of the system and structure of thermal power generating units, acceleration of flue gas desulphurisation projects, transformation of industrial structures, development of eco-industries and a reduction in energy consumption per unit product. In addition, an effective way to abate industrial SO2 emissions is to promote governance strategies to stricly enforce SO2 emission standards, conduct emission trading, and formulate incentives for encouraging cleaner production and clean energy, development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]