Page 63 - Low Carbon Development in China and India
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The AC power consumption of aluminium electrolysis and the
comparable energy use of steel (large- and medium-sized enterprises)
are not far below the advanced international level, while the energy
use of all other products is 10 per cent higher than the international
level. Hence, a large potential exists to reduce energy use and CO2
emissions from energy and industry sectors. Take iron and steel
sector as an example. According to the IEA’s analysis, the sector
has technical potential to reduce energy use by 5.4 EJ—about
19 per cent of the sector’s energy use in 2010—through application
of best available techniques (BAT) (Figure 1.2). Around 67 per cent
of the world’s energy saving potential for iron and steel sector is in
China and 9 per cent of this potential is in India. The development of
a low carbon economy and technologies, while major challenges for
China and India, are also opportunities to undertake major reforms
that are good for the economy and human development. As the
allowable space for carbon emissions shrinks, low carbon technologies
will become the core of future international competitiveness. If
China and India can make important breakthroughs in low carbon
technologies, they will improve their technological competitiveness
and create green job opportunities that will help ease their employment
pressures domestically.
Figure 1.2 Energy Savings Potential for Iron and Steel, based on BAT
Source: IEA, Tracking Clean Energy Progress 2013
Although India’s overall energy intensity is much better than China
due to its different industry structure, for specific technologies, China
is generally more advanced in many energy and manufacturing
technologies, e.g., majority of the coal-fired power generation in India
is sub-critical while a large number in China is super-critical and
28 Low Carbon Development in China and India
comparable energy use of steel (large- and medium-sized enterprises)
are not far below the advanced international level, while the energy
use of all other products is 10 per cent higher than the international
level. Hence, a large potential exists to reduce energy use and CO2
emissions from energy and industry sectors. Take iron and steel
sector as an example. According to the IEA’s analysis, the sector
has technical potential to reduce energy use by 5.4 EJ—about
19 per cent of the sector’s energy use in 2010—through application
of best available techniques (BAT) (Figure 1.2). Around 67 per cent
of the world’s energy saving potential for iron and steel sector is in
China and 9 per cent of this potential is in India. The development of
a low carbon economy and technologies, while major challenges for
China and India, are also opportunities to undertake major reforms
that are good for the economy and human development. As the
allowable space for carbon emissions shrinks, low carbon technologies
will become the core of future international competitiveness. If
China and India can make important breakthroughs in low carbon
technologies, they will improve their technological competitiveness
and create green job opportunities that will help ease their employment
pressures domestically.
Figure 1.2 Energy Savings Potential for Iron and Steel, based on BAT
Source: IEA, Tracking Clean Energy Progress 2013
Although India’s overall energy intensity is much better than China
due to its different industry structure, for specific technologies, China
is generally more advanced in many energy and manufacturing
technologies, e.g., majority of the coal-fired power generation in India
is sub-critical while a large number in China is super-critical and
28 Low Carbon Development in China and India
