The integration of transportation with the energy system in China

Energy security and climate change are forcing China to change its inappropriate energy structure. Today, transport is the second largest energy consumer in China. No single method can achieve a fossil fuel independent transport and it is necessary to propose a comprehensive strategy which can benefit both transport and the energy system. This paper aims to evaluate different transport development strategies in terms of their effects on fossil fuel demand reduction and to explore to what extent renewable energy can contribute to the transport sector. With this objective, three investigations were carried out in sequence. Firstly, a Chinese transport model has been created and approach reliability has been examined. Secondly, two scenarios, continued improvement (CI) scenario and accelerated improvement (AI) scenario, have been designed and evaluated. The results indicate that evident fuel demand reduction can be achieved by formulated transport development planning but more alternative technologies and joint actions are needed in order to change the fuel structure. Finally, 100% non-fossil fuel transport was built up and analysed. The challenges of a transfer to a 100% non-fossil fuel transport in China are not severe at least in the perspectives of domestic biofuels potential and transmission capacity.