Conference explores future of clean energy industry
2023-10-13 16:10:37
By Ma Yuhan, Yichang International Communication Studio
A high-level clean energy conference was held in Yichang on October 11 and 12, gathering more than 1,200 senior officials, scholars, executives and university leaders to explore the future of this industry.
During the opening ceremony of the China (Yichang) Green Energy Development Conference, the Yichang City government, China Energy Research Society, and China Three Gorges Corp unveiled a license for the joint construction of the "Capital of Clean Energy." It not only recognized Yichang's dedicated efforts in clean energy development over the recent years, but also showcased its commitment for the industry in the future.
With the theme "Green Energy Leading the Future," the conference featured a diverse range of activities, such as keynote speeches, presentations, on-site tours, and cross-sector discussions to display Yichang’s achievements in this area and draw inspirations from leading experts.
China's first hydrogen-fueled vessel "Three Gorges Hydrogen Ship 1" was launched during the event. The ship is quieter, consumes less energy and is more environmental friendly than its diesel-powered counterpart.
Yichang boasts a leading position in China's clean energy landscape due to its abundant natural resources and infrastructure.
The city has 468 hydropower stations, including the Three Gorges Project, the world largest hydropower project. These stations contribute to 7% of the country's installed hydropower capacity and 10% of its green hydropower generation, despite the city covering only 0.2% of the national land area.
Furthermore, Yichang possesses significant natural resources, including 16.7% of the country's phosphate deposits and the third-largest graphite reserves in the country, both of which are key raw materials for producing batteries. Additionally, it has significant reserves of shale gas. Local chemical plants produce large volumes of hydrogen as a byproduct of their normal production.
Over the years, Yichang has built other renewable energy projects to complement the hydropower system, such as wind power farms, photovoltaic power stations and pumped-storage hydroelectric plants.
The city is also exploring new forms of clean energy production. In December 2022, the Shanghai-listed China Yangtze Power Co., Ltd. used electricity generated by the Three Gorges Dam to produce 99.99% pure hydrogen necessary for the operation of projects such as the new clean energy ships.
To further develop its clean energy industry, Yichang officials have announced they will recruit and cultivate additional talent in this area.
"Talent and technology are key," emphasized Huang Xuejie, a researcher at the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
They also plan to strengthen collaboration efforts with research institutes and encourage technological innovation.
The conference itself has served as a platform for collaboration and investment. A total of 32 new energy projects were signed during the event, attracting remarkable total investments exceeding 123.57 billion yuan (US$16.93 billion).
A high-level clean energy conference was held in Yichang on October 11 and 12, gathering more than 1,200 senior officials, scholars, executives and university leaders to explore the future of this industry.
During the opening ceremony of the China (Yichang) Green Energy Development Conference, the Yichang City government, China Energy Research Society, and China Three Gorges Corp unveiled a license for the joint construction of the "Capital of Clean Energy." It not only recognized Yichang's dedicated efforts in clean energy development over the recent years, but also showcased its commitment for the industry in the future.
With the theme "Green Energy Leading the Future," the conference featured a diverse range of activities, such as keynote speeches, presentations, on-site tours, and cross-sector discussions to display Yichang’s achievements in this area and draw inspirations from leading experts.
China's first hydrogen-fueled vessel "Three Gorges Hydrogen Ship 1" was launched during the event. The ship is quieter, consumes less energy and is more environmental friendly than its diesel-powered counterpart.
Yichang boasts a leading position in China's clean energy landscape due to its abundant natural resources and infrastructure.
The city has 468 hydropower stations, including the Three Gorges Project, the world largest hydropower project. These stations contribute to 7% of the country's installed hydropower capacity and 10% of its green hydropower generation, despite the city covering only 0.2% of the national land area.
Furthermore, Yichang possesses significant natural resources, including 16.7% of the country's phosphate deposits and the third-largest graphite reserves in the country, both of which are key raw materials for producing batteries. Additionally, it has significant reserves of shale gas. Local chemical plants produce large volumes of hydrogen as a byproduct of their normal production.
Over the years, Yichang has built other renewable energy projects to complement the hydropower system, such as wind power farms, photovoltaic power stations and pumped-storage hydroelectric plants.
The city is also exploring new forms of clean energy production. In December 2022, the Shanghai-listed China Yangtze Power Co., Ltd. used electricity generated by the Three Gorges Dam to produce 99.99% pure hydrogen necessary for the operation of projects such as the new clean energy ships.
To further develop its clean energy industry, Yichang officials have announced they will recruit and cultivate additional talent in this area.
"Talent and technology are key," emphasized Huang Xuejie, a researcher at the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
They also plan to strengthen collaboration efforts with research institutes and encourage technological innovation.
The conference itself has served as a platform for collaboration and investment. A total of 32 new energy projects were signed during the event, attracting remarkable total investments exceeding 123.57 billion yuan (US$16.93 billion).
