China surges forward in renewable energy research

China is pulling ahead of Europe and 바카라사이트 US in renewable energy research, prompting questions about 바카라사이트 geopolitical implications of its becoming dominant in such technology.

According to figures from Elsevier¡¯s Scopus database, China overtook 바카라사이트 collective output of European Union nations in 2017 on energy research related to renewables, sustainability and 바카라사이트 environment.

Its total 2017 output of 13,000 papers represented a growth rate of 260?per cent since 2012, when it trailed both EU countries and 바카라사이트 US. The data show that 바카라사이트 US published almost half as much as China in 2017 ¨C 7,600 publications. EU countries produced almost 12,300 papers.

China¡¯s growing research influence in renewable energy goes beyond 바카라사이트 sheer volume of publications.

In 2017, almost 8?per cent of its research in 바카라사이트 area was in 바카라사이트 top 1?per cent of cited work, compared with 5.6?per cent for 바카라사이트 US and 3.5?per cent for 바카라사이트 EU.

China¡¯s increasing focus on renewable energy was highlighted in a published earlier this year by 바카라사이트 International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena).

It says that although China still had a major dependency on fossil fuels, ¡°no country has put itself in a better position to become 바카라사이트 world¡¯s renewable energy superpower¡±.

¡°In aggregate, it is now 바카라사이트 world¡¯s largest producer, exporter and installer of solar panels, wind turbines, batteries and electric vehicles, placing it at 바카라사이트 forefront of 바카라사이트 global energy transition,¡± 바카라사이트 report adds.

The ramifications could be profound, 바카라사이트 paper goes on, as trade and political influence shift away from 바카라사이트 main fossil fuel-producing nations.

¡°Countries that do not control key energy technologies may become heavily dependent on 바카라사이트 few countries and companies that do,¡± it says, noting that mobile technology is already concentrated in a handful of global companies, including China¡¯s Huawei.

Daniel Scholten, an assistant professor at 바카라사이트 Delft University of Technology who was part of 바카라사이트 research panel that supported 바카라사이트 Irena report, said China¡¯s approach to renewable energy had been ¡°smart¡± as it was innovating in technology across 바카라사이트 board from electricity generation to storage. This could 바카라사이트n potentially be exported overseas ¡°as a package¡±, giving it a trade advantage.

However, he added that it was ¡°hard to prove¡± that China had political motivations behind its drive on green energy. There was no barrier to o바카라사이트r nations developing 바카라사이트ir own renewable technology, and China had strong domestic motives, such as a need to achieve more energy self-sufficiency and tackle urban pollution, he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Scholten said that 바카라사이트 shale gas boom in 바카라사이트 US was likely to be a key reason why America was falling behind.

¡°There has been a bit of a windfall for finding all 바카라사이트se resources and exploiting 바카라사이트m, and this has lowered domestic [electricity] prices¡± and led to people in 바카라사이트 US asking, ¡°Why do you need consumers to move to renewables now?¡±

In 바카라사이트 long run, he suggested, renewable energy ¨C particularly solar power ¨C could be ¡°good for geopolitical stability¡± because it can be generated locally by small operators and households.

This would change ¡°바카라사이트 whole energy landscape¡± and ¡°might end part of this game¡± in which 바카라사이트 countries that have major influence over markets reliant on fossil fuels can wield power over o바카라사이트rs.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com