Abstract
China faces a doubly daunting transition in its energy system: to lessen energy demand from an industry-dominated economy, and to move away from coal-dominated energy supply. In the past decade, China has achieved notable reductions in energy intensity and became the world’s largest manufacturer of renewable energy technology. Yet much more is needed to ease energy consumption, decarbonize energy supply, and clear the air. This chapter argues that China’s central government is exercising and maintaining political power in the transition to sustainable energy by utilizing energy efficiency and low-carbon energy supply to deliver economic development and social stability. The chapter also examines challenges of local-level implementation and the need for significant reforms in the electric power sector.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
Bibliography
Lewis, Joanna. Green Innovation in China: China’s Wind Power Industry and the Global Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy. New York: Columbia University Press, 2013.
Lo, Kevin. “A Critical Review of China’s Rapidly Developing Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policies.” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 29 (2014): 508–16. Accessed March 17, 2015. doi: 10.1016/j.rser.2013.09.006.
LBNL China Energy Databook. “Primary Energy Consumption, by Fuel Source (1980–2011).” Version 8. 2014.
Lewis, Joanna. Energy and Climate Goals of China’s 12th Five-Year Plan Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, 2011. http://www.c2es.org/international/key-country-policies/china/energy-climate-goals-twelfth-five-year-plan.
Zhang, Sufang, Philip Andrews-Speed, Xioali, and Yongxiu He. “Interactions between Renewable Energy Policy and Renewable Energy Industrial Policy: A Critical Analysis of China’s Policy Approach to Renewable Energies.” Energy Policy 62 (2013): 342–53. Accessed March 17, 2015. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2013.07.063.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2016 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ohshita, S. (2016). Exercising Power: China’s Transition to Efficient, Renewable Energy. In: Hager, C., Stefes, C. (eds) Germany's Energy Transition. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-44288-8_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-44288-8_6
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, New York
Print ISBN: 978-1-137-44287-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-44288-8
eBook Packages: Political Science and International StudiesPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)