Economic evaluation based policy analysis for coalbed methane industry in China

Coalbed methane (CBM) is a kind of unconventional natural gas. China has abundant CBM resource and its CBM industry is expected to prosper in the future. However, China’s currently imperfect CBM industry policy still needs to be further improved to support the sustainable development of CBM industry. To provide recommendations for policy makers, economic evaluation is conducted to find out the overall economic viability of China’s CBM resource and the factors with most impact on the economic viability of CBM resource. The results show that there is still about 42% of China’s CBM resource uneconomic to develop under current industry policy and that the three factors with most impact on the economic viability of CBM resource are CBM price, production rate and operating costs. And then, policy scenario analysis is conducted to test the validity of major policies and find out the impact of different policies under different scenarios on the profitability of CBM recourse. The results demonstrate that value-added tax (VAT) reimbursement policy, financial subsidy policy and corporate income tax exemption policy are effective to improve the economic viability of CBM recourse. According to these results, some pointed recommendations on CBM industry policy are put forward.     

Stakeholders’ perceptions on forest biomass-based bioenergy development in the southern US

This study analyzes perceptions of four stakeholder groups (non-governmental organizations [NGOs], government, industry, and academia) regarding forest biomass-based bioenergy development in the southern US (United States) by combining SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats) framework with AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process). Results suggest that NGO representatives perceived rural development as an important opportunity. Government stakeholder group noted that less or no competition with food production and promotes energy security were major strength factors. Conversion technologies are still under trial was identified as a major weakness by industry representatives. Representatives of academia felt that the competition from other renewable energy sources could be a major threat. Overall, all stakeholder groups were in favor of forest biomass-based bioenergy development in the southern US.     

Investigation of China's bio-energy industry development modes based on a SWOT–PEST model

Today more than ever before, the issues of energy shortage, global warming and climate change bound with greenhouse effect are dominating the international agenda, causing an increased interest in the renewable and alternative energy sector. With the development of the Chinese economy and scientific technology, the contradiction between energy, environment and economic growth has become ever-increasingly evident. Bio-energy, as an emerging and promising energy type, is of pretty importance for China's energy development from the strategic perspective. In this paper, the strategic analysis tools stemming from the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats)–PEST (political, economic, social and technological) model have been adopted to explore the development modes of China's bio-energy industry. Afterwards, on the basis of the mode analysis, several corresponding recommendations have been put forward in an attempt to achieve the rapid and sound development of China's bio-energy industry.     

Current situation and future projection of marine renewable energy in China

The rapid development of China's economy cannot be separated from the massive consumption of fossil fuel. However, potential risks such as the extreme shortage of fossil fuel and the resulting environmental problems are becoming more and more prominent. As a substitution for fossil fuel, renewable energy is playing an increasingly important role in the energy structure adjustment. As a special type of renewable energy, marine renewable energy has been paid much attention by China's government and scientific researchers because of its properties such as cleanness, environmental protection and large reserves. Under the background of energy structure adjustment and electricity market reform in China, the marine renewable energy power market has a bright future. Through querying an amount of literature and information, this paper makes a strategic analysis based on the understanding of the resource endowment, the current industrial status, and policy environment. Then, the PEST‐SWOT strategy analysis model was adopted to analyze the internalities (strengths and weaknesses) and the externalities (opportunities and threats) of the factors affecting the development of marine renewable energy power industry. Then, some countermeasures from the four angles of strategic positioning, institutional arrangement, environmental education, and technical support are proposed to address the weaknesses and threats. Through the research, some conclusions and policy proposals are finally put forward to promote the sustainable development of the industry.     

Stakeholders' perceptions on challenges and opportunities for biodiesel and bioethanol policy development in Thailand

Thailand is Southeast Asia's largest promoter of biofuels. Although, Thailand promotes the use of biofuels, it has yet to achieve its policy targets. This paper focuses on the first generation biofuel development in Thailand and examines the perceptions of seven stakeholder groups to guide further policy development. These stakeholders were feedstock producers, biofuel producers, government agencies, car manufacturers, oil companies, non-profit organizations and end users. It combines a Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) framework with an Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) framework and a TOWS Matrix for analysis of stakeholder's perceptions to propose priorities for policy development. Five policies were of high priority for development of biofuel. These are: (1) promoting biofuel production and use in long term through government policies, (2) revising government regulations to allow sale of biofuel products to other domestic industries while keeping retail prices of blended biofuels below those of regular ethanol and biodiesel, (3) improving farm management and promoting contract farming, (4) expanding cultivation area and yield without affecting food production and environmental sustainability, and (5) balancing biofuel feedstock use between the food and energy industries.     

Towards a liberalized Turkish natural gas market: a SWOT analysis

Turkey is currently in the process of restructuring and liberalization of its natural gas market. However, Turkish Petroleum Pipeline Corporation’s (BOTAS) monopoly of more than 80% of natural gas imports, and ranging subsidized gas prices from the beginning, mainly for power generators but also for households and the industry, are among the factors preventing the formation of a fully competitive and liberal market. Hence, the primary aim of this study is to gain insight into the private sector view of the restructuring process, through a qualitative inquiry, including an industry-wide survey and a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis. This study reveals the various internal (Strengths and Weaknesses) and external (Opportunities and Threats) factors, the degree of importance of each factor for the future of the industry, and the level of consistency between these aforementioned assessments. Based on the consensus reached among the Turkish Natural Gas industry representatives, policy recommendations are provided. Results suggest that market liberalization and increase in private sector involvement are the two strengths agreed upon. Likewise, competitive structuring is evaluated as a critical factor for transparency and efficiency, rather than being simply infrastructure-based development. In addition, the participants concur on the importance of increasing share of LNG in the total natural gas supply.     

煤层气形成产业的基础条件分析

我国有丰富的煤层气资源,随着经济发展对优质能源的需求日益增加,在我国石油天然气相对短缺的条件下,煤层气的消费市场必然存在。成熟的生产技术和国家的政策支持使煤层气具备了产业发展条件。     

Innovation and technology transfer through global value chains: Evidence from China's PV industry

China's success as a rapid innovation follower in the infant Photovoltaic (PV) industry surprised many observers. This paper explores how China inserted itself into global clean energy innovation systems by examining the case of the solar PV industry. The paper decomposes the global PV industrial value chain, and determines the main factors shaping PV technology transfer and diffusion. Chinese firms first entered PV module manufacturing through technology acquisition, and then gradually built their global competitiveness by utilizing a vertical integration strategy within segments of the industry as well as the broader PV value chain. The main drivers for PV technology transfer from the global innovation system to China are global market formation policy, international mobilization of talent, the flexibility of manufacturing in China, and belated policy incentives from China's government. The development trajectory of the PV industry in China indicates that innovation in cleaner energy technologies can occur through both global and national innovation processes, and knowledge exchange along the global PV value chain.     

Energy conservation and circular economy in China's process industries

Since energy consumption in process industries accounts for a great proportion of China's total energy consumption, energy conservation becomes the practical choice to reduce the conflict between energy demand and energy supply in China, and therefore, promoting energy conservation is the long-term solution to China's energy and environment problems from the source. In this paper, based on the introduction of the concept of energy consumption status in China's key energy-consuming process industries, the main technical bottlenecks and resource-environment problems were analyzed with special emphasis on energy utilization efficiency, energy consumption mode, and waste emission. As for the measures to resolve these problems, at the policy level, policies and programs of Chinese government related to energy conservation were introduced in combination with China's circular economy structure. At the technical level, the key technologies and research progress to improve energy utilization efficiency, reducing energy consumption, as well as utilizing the resource of discharged wastes were reviewed. Finally, three typical cases of the development of circular economy at three levels, namely the chemical industry, metallurgical industry, and electric power industry, were studied for the enforcement of circular economy and energy conservation in China's process industries.     

Why is there overcapacity in China's PV industry in its early growth stage?

China has rich solar energy resources with great potential for future development. In recent years, encouraged and guided by China's central and local governments as well as international market, China's PV industry has seen a fast development, with increasingly expanded output. A complete industrial chain has taken shape. In 2011, the PV industry of China saw an annual output value of more than 300 billion RMB and total exports and imports of 142 billion RMB, providing jobs for 300,000 people. The development of China's PV industry mainly relies on the European market. Major factors driving the increase of its production capacity include: huge profits at early stage; great support of governments; lack of effective development planning; low-end processing and manufacturing; low admittance standards. The overcapacity in China's PV industry here refers to overcapacity of PV products such as silicon, polycrystalline silicon, solar cells and PV modules. Impacted by the US Financial Crisis and the European Debt Crisis, the market demand for PV products has been shrinking, resulting in more serious overcapacity of the industry. The Chinese government had hoped that the domestic PV market could absorb the overproduced PV products. However, it seems that, due to insufficient development and uncoordinated incentive system, the domestic PV market may not be able to promote significant change of the situation in a short period. Therefore, it should take a long time to solve the problem of overcapacity.     

基于新经济增长点视角的新能源产业生成要素分析

我国正日益加快能源产业战略转型的步伐,积极推进新能源产业的发展,着力培育新的经济增长点。新经济增长点的特征主要表现为产业关联效应强、旺盛的市场需求和发展潜力以及动态演变。新经济增长点的生成和培育需要综合考虑市场需求、创新能力、资源禀赋、政策环境四类要素的作用。市场需求是前提,创新能力是关键,资源禀赋是基础,政策环境是支撑,四大要素的优化配置和动态组合方能促进新经济增长点的生成。以徐州为例,新能源产业高度依赖欧美等发达国家的市场需求,加快开发国内市场是化解风险的有效途径;大部分核心技术主要依靠欧美发达国家,导致产品成本居高不下,必须进一步整合创新要素,加大自主创新力度;徐州具有发展光伏、风电、生物质能和环保蓄电池较好的资源禀赋,但资源优势有待进一步挖掘和放大,加快开发利用生物质能是促进徐州新能源产业长远健康发展的重要一环;政策环境是新能源产业发展的强大推动力,但还需进一步细化,增强可操作性。     

A vision of a sustainable energy future

There is a need to move towards a sustainable energy policy with the objectives of environmental protection, sound natural resource management and energy security. Opportunities exist for the increased development of renewable energy and energy efficiency through regulation, changes to institutional and economic arrangements, and through liberalisation of the energy market, which offers the potential for the development of Energy Service Companies and a market for ‘green’ electricity.     

Applying the blockchain technology to promote the development of distributed photovoltaic in China

Access to energy has increasingly been provided by the Chinese Government via new alternative energy sources known as renewables in recent years. Meanwhile, the development and use of environmentally friendly renewables gradually become the basic requirements for the sustainable development in the future society. The integration of blockchain technology with distributed photovoltaic (PV) energy may break the existing pattern where the production, transportation, distribution, and sales of energy are centralized. This paper first reviews the current overall situation of China's distributed PV and further analyzes the policy environment with respect to the development of distributed PV. On the basis of the analysis of the status quo, the paper then discusses the internalities (strengths and weaknesses) and the externalities (opportunities and threats) that have driven the development of China's distributed PV by illustrating the SWOT analysis. The data structure and characteristics of blockchain are analyzed to identify the application mode of blockchain technology in the distributed PV industry for the first time. Through our research, some conclusions and policy proposals are finally put forward to provide support to the formulation of related policy in the Chinese Government and industry association.     

中国可再生能源发展进入阶段转换期

本世纪前10年,中国可再生能源采取开放型发展模式,凭借风电产业"以市场换技术"的战略及光伏产业"两头在外"的发展模式,加之国内政策的大力扶持,连续3年保持全球风电第一大国地位,2011年中国光伏电池产量占到全球产量的56.5%,光伏组件出口量占当年全球新增光伏装机容量的54.6%。然而自2010年末起,中国可再生能源产业频繁遭遇国外"双反"制裁,正面临"保护难"和"出口难"的两难困境,"以市场换技术"战略难以为继,"两头在外"的发展模式也走到了尽头。开放式的发展模式已不适合产业的进一步发展,中国可再生能源产业开始步入主要依靠国内市场、依靠自主创新的内向化发展新阶段。中国的可再生能源市场前景广阔,国内市场足以支撑产业的发展。虽然国外企业在技术水平方面领先于中国企业,但由于技术边界效应的存在,中国企业在国内市场上还是有优势的。新阶段中国的产业政策应该转向大力开发国内市场,将补贴产品的生产和贸易环节改为补贴生产要素,并加大对可再生能源消费端的补贴。同时,要加快提升企业自主创新能力和产业技术水平。     

Study on the hydrogen demand in China based on system dynamics model

Reasonable estimation of hydrogen energy and other renewable energy demand of China's medium and long-term energy is of great significance for China's medium and long-term energy plan. Therefore, based on both China's future economic development and relative economic theory and system dynamics theory, this article analyzes qualitatively the internal factors and external factors of hydrogen energy demand system, and makes the state high and low two assumptions about China's medium and long-term hydrogen demand according to the different speed of China's economic development. After the system dynamic model setting up export and operation, the output shows the data changes of the total hydrogen demand and the four kinds of hydrogen demand. According to the analysis of the output, two conclusions are concluded: The secondary industry, not the tertiary industry (mainly the transportation), should be firstly satisfied by the hydrogen R&D and support of Government policy. Change of Chinese hydrogen demand scale, on basis of its economic growth, can not be effective explained through Chinese economic growth rate, and other influencing factor and mechanism should be probed deeply.     

简论我国新兴能源产业政策的发展定位

新兴能源产业是我国产业结构调整的先导产业,是促进产业结构合理化、高级化的重要标志.政府实施的针对新兴能源产业发展的产业政策,并不是以干预为特征的反市场行为,而是充分发挥市场的基础性作用,政府的作用在于引导和推动.我国新兴能源产业政策应立足于比较优势战略和后发优势战略的结合,既要充分发挥我国资源禀赋的比较优势,又要充分利用后发优势实现新兴能源产业结构的优化和升级.应围绕钻石模型中的4项关键要素制定相关政策,在生产要素方面,重点是创造和提升新兴能源产业生产要素的质量;在需求条件方面政府具有很重要的作用,体现在政府公共采购、制定产品和制造标准规范、设定技术标准、调整优先性需求等措施上;在相关产业与支持性产业方面,政策通过强化新兴能源产业集群和规划区域发展,形成大量产业联系密切的企业以及相关支撑机构在空间上的集聚,构建自主型的新兴能源产业价值链;在企业战略、企业结构和同业竞争方面,政府政策的作用不仅是如何成立、组织和管理企业,更重要的是推动企业的国际化发展,以及保持国内市场处于活跃的竞争状态.     

Economic evaluation of coalbed methane production in China

Roaring natural gas demand, energy security and environment protection concerns coupled with stringent emission reduction requirement have made China's abundant coalbed methane (CBM) resource an increasingly valuable energy source. However, not all of China's CBM resource is economic to develop under current technological condition and economic situation. In order to locate the CBM resource with economic viability to develop in China, economic evaluation of CBM production is conducted by applying net present value (NPV) method. The results indicate that more than half of CBM resource in China is economic to develop. It shows that CBM price, production rate and operating costs are the three major factors with most impact on the economic viability of the CBM development in target areas in China. The result also demonstrates that the economic limit production is roughly 1200 cubic meters per day. These economic evaluation results provide important information for both CBM companies and China government.     

Charging Chinese future: the roadmap of China's policy for new energy automotive industry

China's new energy vehicle (NEV) industry, which survives with powerful policy intervention and fostering, is an important branch of Chinese green energy policy revolution against climate change and circumstance issues. In the study, the roadmap of China's policy exploration on developing China's NEV industry within the time window of 2001–2020 was investigated systematically. Powerful policy intervention plays an important role in initializing the framework of China's NEV industry under the comprehensive situation when China's innovation capability and automobile technology were both at unsatisfactory state. China's policy of developing NEV market demonstrates that intense government intervention is necessary and successful at the starting stage of the NEV industry. Delicate balance between governmental intervention and market self-adjustment should be intensified by suitable policies. The pilot innovations and the serious lessons of China's policy explorations are of both practical and research significance for other developing countries.     

A review on China's Energy Storage Industry under the “Internet Plus” initiative

In the context of China's “Internet Plus” era, the application of big data and energy storage technology etc. plays an important role in controlling the renewables of randomness and intermittence during the generation. This paper focuses on the development of China's Energy Storage Industry, summarizes the industrial situation and policy environment, analyses China's Energy Storage Industry by the PEST‐SWOT framework, and discusses the development trends and three cases under the “Internet Plus” initiative. At last, several recommendations are offered from energy storage system, development solutions, market design and international cooperation, aiming to cope with the issues concerning the development of China's Energy Storage Industry and future challenges. It is expected that such recommendations can be a boost to China's energy storage industry in the future.     

宏观经济走势对柴油机行业的影响

介绍了上半年的宏观经济走势,对影响柴油机行业发展的宏观因素,包括货币政策、出口退税、资源、成本等进行综述,分析这些因素对柴油机终端行业的影响,并根据柴油机终端行业的走势,分析对柴油机行业的影响,以引起柴油机企业的重视,及早应对外界环境变化,提高企业竞争力。