The 13th US-China Green Energy Forum took place in an online conference on January 5^th and 6^th, 2022, with scaled-down in-person events held in Beijing and Fuzhou. The Forum is co-sponsored by the Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering, the US-China Green Energy Council (UCGEC), and the Energy Internet Research Institute of Tsinghua University, and organized by the State Grid Fujian Electric Power Co., Ltd., and co-organized by the Fujian Branch of China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd., Huadian Electric Power Research Institute Co., LTD. (CHDER), and the Fujian Society for Electrical Engineering. This year’s forum is on the theme of “Path to Clean Energy Development in the Context of Carbon Neutrality”. Distinguished experts and researchers from the energy and power sectors shared their insights and opinions on achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, building new power grid systems with renewable energy sources, and fostering clean and sustainable energy and power development.

Yinbiao Shu, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, President of the Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering, President of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Chairman of China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd., addressed the forum and delivered a keynote speech on “Energy Technology Innovation to Promote Green and Low-carbon Development”. Qi Wang, Executive President of the US-China Green Energy Council, and Yongxiang Tan, Chairman and Party Secretary of State Grid Fujian Electric Power Co., Ltd., also spoke at the opening ceremony. The Chinese Consulate-General in San Francisco sent a letter of congratulations to the forum. Mingshan Lin, Deputy President of the Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering, served as the moderator of the opening ceremony.

Yinbiao Shu emphasized in his speech that the global consensus on climate change required a green and low-carbon transition powered by energy technology innovations aiming at harnessing and utilizing clean energies. China has achieved significant advances in electrification, energy efficiency, and carbon reduction in recent years, and has attained remarkable results in power technology innovation by vigorously pursuing innovation-led green development and accelerating the establishment of a clean energy supply system. Over the last decade, the share of clean energy installations rose from 24% to 44%; the share of electricity in final energy consumption grew from 19% to 27%; energy consumption per unit of GDP dropped by 30%, and carbon emission intensity decreased by 40%. Moreover, 86% of coal-fired power units underwent ultra-low emission upgrades, showing an impressive achievement of green and low-carbon transformation driven by energy innovation. He argued that the green and low-carbon transition should adhere to the principles of safety, cleanliness, and cost-effectiveness, and follow the path of cleanliness, re-electrification, digitalization, and standardization. He also asserted that technological innovations should ensure the availability, affordability, and sustainability of clean energy supply. In the speech, Mr Shu identified nine key technologies, namely, solar power generation, wind power generation, nuclear power, energy storage, hydrogen energy, re-electrification, digitalization, CCS and CCUS, and new power grid systems based on renewable energy, that would be essential for advancing the global green and low-carbon transition in the next two decades. He suggested that China and the United States should enhance their cooperation in energy technologies, leverage their own strengths, achieve breakthroughs in core technologies of energy and electricity of key importance, facilitate the establishment of an international standard system for low-carbon technologies, and conduct joint research and training to provide technological support for global green and low-carbon transformation.

Yinbiao Shu opening the forum and presenting a keynote speech

In his speech, Qi Wang stated that global leaders had a shared vision and action plan to address global climate change and transition to low-carbon or even zero-carbon energy sources. He argued that “carbon neutrality” was the common objective of most countries in the world, and that it would bring about a profound transformation globally. He also emphasized that technological innovation was the key to achieving carbon neutrality, and that global cooperation was the driving force behind technological innovations. He highlighted the immense potential for collaboration between China and the United States on climate change issues and affirmed that the US-China Green Energy Council would persist in creating a platform for international dialogue and partnership in green energy, tackling common challenges such as attaining carbon neutrality, fostering technological innovation, and finding practical solutions. He also urged to broaden the horizons of global cooperation in areas such as fundamental research, engineering scaling, and industrial application, and to pursue mutually beneficial cooperation modes and avenues for win-win outcomes.

Qi Wang delivering a speech

In his speech, Yongxiang Tan discussed how the State Grid Corporation of China had developed world-class energy Internet enterprises with distinctive Chinese features in the past few years and had successfully and positively participated in creating a clean, low-carbon, secure and efficient energy system. He pointed out that the State Grid boasted the world’s largest and most rapidly expanding clean energy power generation facilities. He also praised how the State Grid Fujian Electric Power Co. Ltd. had promoted the comprehensive development of clean energy based on the local conditions of Fujian Province, supported the building of an outstanding ecosystem, and achieved remarkable results. He declared that in July 2021, the State Grid Corporation selected Fujian as one of the three provincial pilot zones for new power grid systems. He claimed that the State Grid Fujian Electric Power Co. Ltd. endeavored to create exemplary models in the five aspects of providing clean energies, consuming energy efficiently, building an energy Internet ecosystem, applying operation control technologies, and innovating energy systems and mechanisms, with the goal of becoming a leader, enabler and pioneer of green and low-carbon energy transition by taking the lead, setting the bar, and making a difference.

Yongxiang Tan delivering a speech

The letter of congratulations from the Chinese Consulate-General in San Francisco recognized that China and the United States had worked together on the Paris Agreement on climate change, and that both countries were pursuing a green and low-carbon transition, turning climate change into a new avenue for Sino-US cooperation. The US-China Green Energy Forum, since its establishment, has invited distinguished guests to join cross-border summit dialogues on cutting-edge trends and hot topics in green energy development, and fostered deep discussions and mutually beneficial cooperation. The Forum has established itself as an important platform for dialogue and partnership in the clean energy sector between China and the United States. Great expectations are held for the forum to play an important role in further enhancing technological innovation exchanges and boosting local cooperation between the two countries.

The Chinese Consulate-General in San Francisco sending a letter of congratulations

Mingshan Lin moderating the opening ceremony

The forum featured keynote speeches from Nobel laureates, distinguished academicians and researchers from energy and power-related fields. Steven Chu, Nobel Laureate in physics, former Energy Secretary of the US and Chairman of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, outlined an innovative path towards sustainable development in response to climate change. Jianbo Guo, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Deputy President of the Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering, Senior Consultant of the State Grid Corporation and Honorary President of China Electric Power Research Institute, addressed the balancing challenge posed by the high proportion of renewable energy in China. J. Fraser Stoddart, Nobel Prize winner in chemistry and professor at Northwestern University, presented his research and exploration of artificial molecular machines. The forum also heard keynote speeches from Jizhen Liu, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Deputy President of the Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering and Director of the State Key Laboratory of New Energy Power System, who examined the development prospects and key technologies of China’s offshore wind power. Charles Kolstad, co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and professor of energy and environmental economics at Stanford University, explained the implementation path of the decarbonization strategy and the emission reduction methods that needed to be adopted in various fields. Qili Huang, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Senior Consultant of State Grid Co., Ltd., and Chief Scientist in the power of National Energy Group, served as the moderator of the keynote speeches.

Keynote speakers

The forum also incorporated five special sub-forums on carbon neutrality and energy transformation, building new power grid systems, developing offshore wind power, managing energy storage systems and control, and integrating comprehensive energy.

The forum was attended by Robert Weisenmiller, former Chairman of the California Energy Commission, Qijiang Zhai and Dong Shi, Consuls of Chinese Consulate-General in San Francisco, Binglin Tan, Mingcheng Xie, Mengning Zhou and Qin Wang, Vice Presidents of the US-China Green Energy Council, Qimin Chai, Director of Strategic Planning Department of National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation (NCSC), Yuanhai Wu, Deputy Chief Economist and Director of the Party Group Office of China Huaneng Group Corporation, Hongxian Cai, General Manager of State Grid Fujian Power Co., Ltd., Qing Luo, Director of International Department of China Huaneng Group Corporation, Changqian Liang, Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Department, Min Zhao, Deputy Director of the New Energy Business Unit, Gang Wang, Secretary General of the China Society for Electrical Engineering, Yongqiang Cai, Executive Director and Party Secretary of Fujian Branch of China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd., Lixin Li, Party Secretary and Chairman of Huadian Electric Power Research Institute Co., Ltd., Xinrong Yan, Deputy Party Secretary and General Manager of Huadian Electric Power Research Institute Co., Ltd., Gongxin Li, Deputy General Manager of State Grid Fujian Electric Power Co., Ltd. and President of Fujian Society for Electrical Engineering, Jiye Wang, General Manager of China Electric Power Research Institute Co., Ltd., Changping Sun, Director of the Research Institute of China Three Gorges Corporation, Tianshu Bi, Vice President of North China Electric Power University, Xinchen Wang, Vice President of Fuzhou University, and Qinghua Chen, Vice president of Fujian Normal University in person in Beijing and Fuzhou venues or online.

The forum had Xi'an Jiaotong University, Fuzhou University, Xiamen University, China Electric Power Research Institute, Clean Energy Research Institute of China Huaneng Group, and the Research Institute of China Three Gorges Corporation as its co-organizers.