Cooperation in the Energy Futures of China and the United States (2000) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Executive Summary
Executive Summary
Pages 1-10
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 1... ...
Our nations must cooperate to provide clean, affordable energy for economic growth and social development, and work to minimize future energy security concerns, environmental threats to our global society, and the health and economic impacts of energy production and use. This report focuses on collaborative opportunities between China and the United States two large and influential nations but the lessons learned here also can serve the larger global community.
|
From page 2... ...
The committee conducted its work shortly after a series of meetings at the highest political levels in both governments, and this report attempts to capture the spirit of those interactions and assist in institutionalizing the many opportunities present in the energy sector. CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES The United States and China share a primary challenge of providing in a period of projected growth adequate and reliable energy services in both the near and long term while minimizing adverse health, economic, and environmental impacts associated with energy production and use.
|
From page 3... ...
Challenges specific to the United States include: · the uncertain future of commercial nuclear power; · the absence of political consensus on the need for, and means to, address global climate change, especially in light of the potential retirement of U.S. nuclear power plants; and · growth in energy use and emissions in the transportation sector, due to larger vehicle fleet and increased vehicle use.
|
From page 4... ...
The cross-cutting recommendations address issues having impacts across the entire energy sector: the use of market mechanisms to accelerate the development and deployment of advanced technologies; how best to utilize existing financial institutions to increase application of advanced technologies; and research, development, and demonstration of advanced technologies. In each of these areas there are specific opportunities, for example, development of advanced renewable energy technologies, and these have been highlighted as subpoints to the broad cross-cutting recommendations.
|
From page 5... ...
, the second energy efficiency recommendation (strengthening and expanding research, development, and demonstration of energy efficiency technologies) , and the natural gas recommendation also deserve high priority.
|
From page 6... ...
The committee further suggested that our governments consider collaborating on a technology demonstration project to illustrate the mutual benefits of the Clean Development Mechanism as established under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The CCEF recommends a broad participation by agencies from both countries in energy cooperation, with financing agencies and facilities specifically emphasizing their support for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other advanced clean-energy technologies.
|
From page 7... ...
It also recommends a high-level bilateral study of institutional innovations to promote trade and investment in energy efficiency technologies. The CCEF recommends significantly strengthening and expanding the existing program of collaborative precompetitive research, development, and demonstration of energy efficiency technologies between the two countries.
|
From page 8... ...
The CCEF also recommends that China consider distributed electric power generation options using remote sources of natural gas or CBM from smaller fields to meet the energy needs of remote populations currently without access to commercial energy, and to augment existing services through increased reliability and lower total cost. PETROLEUM The CCEF endorses the objectives of the ongoing "Oil and Gas Forum" initiated in 1997, and recommends that the following major areas for cooperation in the petroleum sector between China and the United States be on the agenda of this continuing bilateral dialogue: restructuring issues; long-term sector strategies; exploration and resources assessment; refining technologies; transportation fuels; and environmental protection.
|
From page 9... ...
NUCLEAR ENERGY For a sustainable energy future, preservation of nuclear energy as a power generation option is important: this is particularly so given heavy coal dependence in both countries. The CCEF found that the following priorities for our governments concerning a commercial nuclear power program are similar: the ability to prevent proliferation of fissile materials and handle spent fuel and waste; safety in the design and operation of nuclear plants; and a desire to improve the economics of nuclear plants.
|
From page 10... ...
A structured exchange between the Electric Power Research Institutes in each country would provide significant opportunities for information exchange and could provide insight into advanced technology deployment in the United States especially in flexible alternating current transmission, the performance of clean coal technologies, and distributed generation deployment. Such a relationship could also provide the connection necessary to build on the experience gained in the United States in providing power to outlying rural areas.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.