The Power of Renewables : Opportunities and Challenges for China and the United States

The United States and China are the world's top two energy consumers and, as of 2010, the two largest economies. Consequently, they have a decisive role to play in the world's clean energy future. Both countries are also motivated by related goals, namely diversified energy portfolios, job creation, energy security, and pollution reduction, making renewable energy development an important strategy with wide-ranging implications. Given the size of their energy markets, any substantial progress the two countries make in advancing use of renewable energy will provide global benefits, in terms of enhanced technological understanding, reduced costs through expanded deployment, and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions relative to conventional generation from fossil fuels. Within this context, the U.S. National Academies, in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), reviewed renewable energy development and deployment in the two countries, to highlight prospects for collaboration across the research to deployment chain and to suggest strategies which would promote more rapid and economical attainment of renewable energy goals. Main findings and concerning renewable resource assessments, technology development, environmental impacts, market infrastructure, among others, are presented. Specific recommendations have been limited to those judged to be most likely to accelerate the pace of deployment, increase cost-competitiveness, or shape the future market for renewable energy. The recommendations presented here are also pragmatic and achievable. Table of ContentsFront MatterSummary1 Introduction2 Resource Base3 Technology Readiness4 Environmental Impacts of Renewable Electricity Generation5 Renewable Energy Policies, Markets, and Deployment in China and the United States6 Transitioning to a Sustainable Energy Economy7 U.S.-Chinese CooperationReferencesAppendixesAppendix A: Timeline of U.S.-Chinese Cooperation on Clean Energy and Climate ChangeAppendix B: Life Cycle Assessment of Solar Thermal Power Technology in ChinaAppendix C: Life Cycle Assessment of Biomass Power in ChinaAppendix D: Environmental Considerations for Photovoltaics