Escalating China-US spat 'will affect clean energy', damage collaboration

Mounting Sino-US trade tensions could affect clean energy collaboration between the two countries, and both sides should work together to address global climate change issues, an expert warned.

"I think the escalating trade war affects many things, including cooperation on clean energy projects," said Steven Chu, Nobel laureate and former United States' secretary of energy.

"It's also very bad for the US, very bad for China and very bad for the world to have these trade wars. I hope Congress steps in and actually nudges the president in the right direction," he said on Saturday.

Following the 25 percent tariffs on steel and 10 percent on aluminum imposed in early June, the Trump administration is considering increasing tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods to 25 percent, including renewable energy products.

The steel tariffs are also expected to affect development of wind and solar energy, which use more steel than any other form of energy generation.

"(The right direction) is to actually bring down trade tariffs. When you bring down tariffs, as history has shown, everybody benefits. So I think the US is currently going in the wrong direction, and I hope we can reverse direction," said Chu.

He made the remarks on the sidelines of the US-China Green Energy Summit held by the US-China Green Energy Council on Saturday in Burlingame, California. The meeting brought together dozens of energy experts from the two countries to discuss innovative energy solutions for a greener future.

The speakers at the summit agreed that the potential is huge for China and the US to work together, and collaboration will not only benefit the two countries, but the entire world.

"As we go forward, there are some challenges in the bilateral relationship. But I think when we can connect the scientific-engineering discussions, there's an awful lot of benefit for both sides," said Robert Weisenmiller, chair of the California Energy Commission.

Renewable energy

California now relies on renewable energy for 3 percent of its power generation, and the ratio is expected to reach 50 percent by 2030. That paves the way for a lot of other countries to coordinate their electrical systems in order to enjoy affordable electricity while still growing their economies, said Chu.

Chu said China has experience that other countries could benefit from.

"I think China is now the world's leader in high-voltage transmission systems, which are vital for bringing renewable energy to parts of the country where people live and need it," said Chu.

China has set high goals for power production, such as constructing a new generation of clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy systems, said Zhou Xiaoxin, a scholar with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and honorary president of the China Electric Power Research Institute.

The country also aims to realize maximum exploitation and utilization of renewable energy resources and high-efficiency energy utilization, he said.

Admitting that there's competition between companies in the marketplace, Chu said the infrastructure is grounds for "very fertile collaboration" between the two countries.

"There are many places in the US that China can collaborate on. I am absolutely convinced ... that ... China indeed has become a leader in trying to pave the way for cutting carbon dioxide emissions," said Chu.

liazhu@chinadailyusa.com

(China Daily 08/07/2018 page11)