On a global scale, an energy revolution is unfolding. As the world economy gradually shifts to a low-carbon, sustainable model, more and more countries are expanding the use of clean renewable energy into their future development goals. Enterprises, cities and countries even promise to use 100% renewable energy in the future. As the world's largest renewable energy producer, consumer and investor country, China is at the center of this energy revolution. Copper is a must for the development of renewable energy. Indispensable basic materials will use its high efficiency and environmental protection features to help the global energy transformation and meet new development opportunities in this process.
China's renewable energy development momentum is strong
On August 21-23, the 2018 China Renewable Energy Academic Conference sponsored by the China Renewable Energy Society and supported by the International Copper Association and other institutions was held in Beijing. More than 1,000 representatives from academic circles, enterprises, associations and governments participated in this event. The second event, and discussed the future development and innovation direction of the renewable energy industry. Du Xiangyu, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said at the meeting that renewable energy will become the leading energy source in the future world. By 2050, China's renewable energy will account for the total primary energy consumption. The quantity is expected to exceed 50%, and the proportion of non-fossil electricity in power is expected to reach 78%.
In recent years, China's renewable energy production and consumption capacity has continued to escalate. As China's renewable energy power generation continues to expand, in the first half of this year, non-fossil energy sources such as hydropower, nuclear power, wind power, and solar power have accounted for all of the power generation. 25.2% of power generation, a green and diversified energy supply system is rapidly establishing '1' in China. Meanwhile, according to the BP World Energy Statistical Yearbook, China accounted for 36% of global renewable energy consumption growth in 2017. The biggest driving force for global renewable energy consumption is '2'.
At the same time, according to the Ernst & Young Renewable Energy National Attractiveness Index '3', China has maintained its position as the most attractive investment attraction in the global renewable energy sector since 2015. At the beginning of 2017, the National Energy Administration of China issued “Renewable Energy”. The development of the '13th Five-Year Plan', '4', announced that it will invest 2.5 trillion yuan in renewable energy during the '13th Five-Year Plan.
The use of renewable energy brings new opportunities to the copper industry
Copper has the electrical conductivity next to silver, can effectively improve the efficiency of electrical equipment, and is an indispensable material for the development of renewable energy. It is widely used in solar energy, wind power, hydropower and other renewable energy power generation systems to promote power generation. And maximize the transport power, thereby reducing the impact on the environment.
According to research data from the International Copper Association, the average copper use in renewable energy systems is 8-12 times higher than that of conventional power generation systems, of which wind turbines use 2.5-6 tons of copper per megawatt, and solar photovoltaic power generation per megawatt. The use of 4 tons of copper. According to the goal of China's 2020 photovoltaic power generation reaching 105,000 kilowatts, it will require about 420,000 tons of copper '5'. The study also shows that renewable energy power generation equipment can reduce 100- for every ton of copper used. 7,500 tons of carbon emissions, and due to the high energy efficiency brought by copper, can save users between the use of the equipment during the period of 2.5-2.5 million US dollars (about 1.7 million -27.25 million yuan) '6'.
It is also worth mentioning that in addition to the most well-known renewable energy systems such as solar, wind and water, some emerging renewable energy applications, such as air source heat pump equipment, also require large amounts of copper. Air source heat pumps Compared with the general heat source equipment, it is more energy-efficient. It can consume 3-4 degrees of electricity when it consumes 1 degree of electricity. Therefore, the air source heat pump is becoming an important tool for the revolution of coal-to-clean energy in northern China, such as the 2017 Beijing city. The use of air source heat pump to achieve a replacement of bituminous coal of 906,000 tons '7'. A typical air source heat pump heating system uses about 20kg of copper, and its associated outdoor evaporator, indoor condenser and grid also need Use copper as a raw material.
Reference:
'1' China Economic Herald (August 7, 2018). Renewable energy generation scale expansion and abandonment of wind power continues to ease. Quoted from http://www.ceh.com.cn/cjpd/2018/08/1073902. Shtml
'2' China Power News Network (July 31, 2018). China leads global renewable energy consumption. Quoted at http://www.cpnn.com.cn/xny/201807/t20180731_1082473.html
'3' Global Network (May 17, 2017). China has become the most attractive country for investment in renewable energy. Quoted at http://world.huanqiu.com/exclusive/2017-05/10685314.html
'4' National Development and Reform Commission (December 2016). Renewable Energy Development '13th Five-Year Plan. Quoted from http://www.ndrc.gov.cn/zcfb/zcfbghwb/201612/W020161216661816762488.pdf
'5' Mining Research and Development (May 2018). Safety and Security Recommendations for Copper Resources in Economic Development--Thoughts on the Application Prospect of Copper in the New Energy Era. Volume 38, Issue 5.
'6' Copper Alliance (March 2017). Backgrounder: Copper and Energy Efficiency. Retrieved from http://copperalliance.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Background_Copper-and-energy-efficiency-1.pdf
'7' China Energy Conservation Association Heat Pump Special Committee, China Heat Pump Industry Alliance. 2017 Beijing Rural Area 'Winter Clean Heating' Air Source Heat Pump Products Summary Report.