Task Group EnergyThe Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is very rich in fossil energy resources and is increasingly relying on coal as primary energy carrier. In 2010, the province of Xinjiang in China had a population of 22 million, with an energy consumption of 2,400 PJ. This was associated with emissions of 214 million tonnes of energy-related CO2, or 9.8 tonnes per capita, 78% of which is derived from coal. One of the drivers of the sharp increase in energy consumption is Xinjiang’s industrial sector, which has grown by a factor of 5.4 between 1990 and 2010 and accounted for 71% of the overall energy consumption in 2010. This is a far higher percentage than in highly-developed countries (e.g., 21% in the US and 30% in Germany). Strategies for sustainable development in Urumqi and other future megacities clearly need to address the industrial sector.
From 1990 to 2010, the real GDP (i.e., inflation corrected) in Xinjiang grew by a factor of 7.0, while the energy-related CO2 emissions grew by a factor of only 4.1. During the same period, the GDP in the whole of China grew by a factor of 7.3, while the energy-related CO2 emissions grew by a factor of only 3.1. The energy-related CO2 emissions per unit GDP decreased by 41% in Xinjiang, whereas they decreased by 53% for the rest of China. This indicates that Xinjiang lags behind other Chinese provinces in decoupling energy growth from economic growth. It is doubtful whether Xinjiang can meet the efficiency targets set by the central government in the 12th Five-year Plan of 0.46 kg CO2 per RMB (2000) in 2015.
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Consumption of Primary Energy in Xinjiang |
CO2 emissions per unit GDP, China and Xinjiang |
The 2007 energy balance of Urumqi shows that about 541 PJ of primary energy was consumed in the city, accounting for 28% of the Xinjiang total (1,927 PJ). Urumqi used 25% of Xinjiang’s coal, 50% of its oil, 12% of its natural gas, and 4% of its renewable energy, much of it in heavy industry. This results in high energy related, per-capita CO2 emissions of 22 tonnes. In 2007, the city consumed 14.7 million tonnes of coal (approximately 51% of its primary energy supply) whereby 30% of the coal consumption was used for the heating of buildings. The lack of adequate air pollution control combined with low stack heights in the city center and inversions in the very cold winter resulted in heavy air pollution with associated severe impacts on human health.
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Energy balance of Urumqi (2007) |
Air pollution in Urumqi is highest in the heating season and exceeds safe levels |
The Chinese Academy of Sciences projects that within the next 40 years China’s gross domestic product (GDP) will increase by 800% and energy consumption by 50% while CO2 emissions will peak around 2030 and later decrease owing to a larger share of renewable energy. In December 2009 China’s prime minister, Wen Jiabao, promised at the Copenhagen Climate Summit that China is going to reduce the CO2 emission per unit GDP from 40% to 45% by the year 2020 compared to the level of 2005. Xinjiang, with abundant fossil fuel resources (coal, natural gas) as well as large areas to develop renewable energy (photovoltaic and solar thermal power plants as well as wind parks), faces challenges and opportunities in fulfilling the emission target. How can these ambitious goals be translated into practice?
Gross domestic product (GDP), energy consumption
and CO2 emissions in China
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