Sustainable development the focus at international forum

The 2016 International Forum on Energy Transitions is taking place from Oct 29 to 31 in Tongli of Suzhou city, Jiangsu province, and according to the organizers it will play a vital role in boosting China's sustainable development and energy transition in the future.

Xi Jinping, president of the country, said that fossil fuels should be replaced by non-fossil energy by the end of the century to save the environment.

During China's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15), the electrical energy generated by non-fossil sources increased from 19 percent to 27.8 percent of the total energy produced.

The installed power capacity of hydropower, nuclear, wind and solar have increased by 1.4, 2.6, 4 and 168 times respectively.

The country will continue to increase its non-fossil energy consumption during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20).

The forum, held by the National Energy Administration, Jiangsu provincial government and the International Renewable Energy Agency, will highlight clean energy, sustainable policies and the future of energy transitions.

At the keynote speech and round table discussion on Oct 29, international and Chinese experts and entrepreneurs will give insights and advice on strategic targets, institutional mechanisms and future technology trends.

The opening ceremony will start with a video clip on Sunday, showing the history of and driving forces behind the energy transition, and the key roles of governments and entrepreneurs. During their respective speeches, experts and entrepreneurs from around the world will discuss and promote future energy systems, energy transformation through grid interconnection, energy transition policies and comprehensive practices, and innovation and cooperation in fossil energy. Enterprises are often viewed as the most dynamic element in energy transformation. To achieve the country's energy-saving goals, energy enterprises should make corresponding changes in various areas, from marketing to technological development.

Yin Jijun, general manager of State Grid Jiangsu Electric Power Company, said that energy transition requires not only new technologies, but also changes in various aspects of society, including people's attitudes and efforts.

"We should treat these goals seriously to benefit our environment and our children," said Yin.

The transition will affect different industries in different ways, with both challenges and opportunities for each. The roundtable event invites executives from various energy fields to discuss new challenges in industrial development. Eight sub-forums will be held on Oct 31, including Future Power Industry, Clean and Low-carbon Development of Fossil Energy, and Renewable Energy: Innovative Development, along with Effective System-Wide Coordination.

Rainer Baake, state secretary at Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and Christian Pilgaard Zinglersen, deputy permanent secretary at the Danish Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate, will introduce their experiences for international energy transitions.

(China Daily 10/29/2016 page18)