The Potential of Renewable Energy Systems in China

This paper discusses the prospective of renewable energy in the process of sustainable development in China. Along with the high-speed economic development and increasing energy consumption, the Chinese Government faces a growing pressure to maintain the balance between energy supply and demand as well as reduce environmental pollution. To ensure energy security and mitigate climate changes the inappropriate energy consumption structure should be changed. As an alternative, a suitable infrastructure for the implementation of renewable energy may serve as a long-term sustainable possibility. Such sustainable energy strategy typical involves three technologies issue: energy conservation, efficiency improvement and replacement fossil fuel by renewable energy sources. Denmark is an example of such strategy can be implemented and it shows the possibility of converting into a 100% renewable energy system. This paper analyses the current status and programming of renewable energy utilization in China and compares the potential of renewable energy sources and energy demand between China and Denmark. It proposes and discusses a forward-looking issue that is the perspective of a 100% renewable energy system in China. The conclusion is such development is not impossible in the future in terms of technology and domestic resources. Due to the uncertainty of estimation and exploitation level of renewable energy sources, energy conservation and efficiency improvement are essential for China to achieving the sustainable energy development.