News
Local governments stop consolidation of China's solar-panel makers: Trina
Local governments have hampered attempts to use market forces to encourage consolidation of loss-making mainland manufacturers of solar panels and related parts, according to one of the industry's largest producers. Gao Jifan, the chairman of Trina Solar, said that unless Beijing prevented the interference, the industry's restoration to sustainable development would be delayed by three to five years. (SCMP) Read more
Honeywell predicts turbo use will double from 5 million units in 2013 to 10 million in 2018
Honeywell expects sales of turbocharged vehicles in China to double from 5 million units in 2013 to 10 million in 2018, with turbo penetration from all suppliers in China is approximately 22 percent at present up from 19 percent in 2012. Honeywell’s own internal data shows that naturally-aspirated engine of the same power output, a turbocharged engine provides up to 20 percent better fuel efficiency for gasoline vehicles and up to 40 percent for diesel, while reducing emissions by up to 30 percent. (China Car Times) Read more
Northern China is running out of water, but the government’s remedies are potentially disastrous
In 2009 the World Bank put the overall cost of China’s water crisis at 2.3% of GDP, mostly reflecting damage to health. Yet water shortages also imperil plans to expand energy production, threatening economic growth. China’s “water productivity” is low. For each cubic metre of water used, China gets $8-worth of output. The average for European countries is $58 per cubic metre. Rather than making sensible and eminently doable reforms in pricing and water conservation, China is focusing on increasing supplies by building engineering projects on a mind-boggling scale. (The Economist) Read more
China to ramp up overseas M&A as it overtakes U.S. as top crude importer
China is set to ramp up acquisitions of overseas oil and gas companies to feed its soaring growth in energy demand as the country overtakes the United States as the world's top net oil importer. The long-expected shift may further strengthen China's position in oil markets as East Asia exerts an increasing influence in global trade. (Reuters) Read more
Shandong becomes hub of low speed electric vehicles
Shandong Province has long been a home to low speed electric vehicles, but now the many enterprises have gained an official governmental okay with a nod from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) to continue their work as Shandong Province has been confirmed as low speed electric vehicle test zone. 128,000 low speed EV’s were produced in Shandong last year, an increase of 68.6% with 125,000 being sold, an equal increase of 68%. (China Car Times) Read more
China to offer tax breaks to solar power manufacturers
China's Ministry of Finance announced it will offer tax breaks to manufacturers of solar power products on Sunday, as China moves to support an industry still struggling to deal with massive overcapacity and weak demand. The ministry said in a short statement on its website that producers of solar power products will receive immediate refunds of 50 percent of value-added taxes. (Reuters) Read more
CNPC under heavy pressure to spin off pipeline network
In the wake of the scandal that erupted at China National Petroleum, the State Council's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) is considering putting the company's sprawling natural gas pipeline network under the direct jurisdiction of the central government or spinning it off into an independent company. A spinoff of the natural gas pipeline network can break the market monopoly and facilitate the reform of natural gas prices, said an NDRC official. (Want China Times) Read more
UK and China agree to work on offshore wind
The UK has signed an agreement to work more closely on offshore wind power with China. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is the first of its kind the Asian nation has signed with another country. It is expected to remove the technological and market barriers for both countries to accelerate wind power development and unleash investment potential for industries. (Energy Live News) Read more
China set to build 200 nuclear power plants: report
China plans to build 200 new nuclear power plants and speed up the construction of 29 more as part of efforts to cut the high level of emissions generated by the large-scale use of coal. China’s demand for nuclear plants will reach 200, with four to six new projects being approved annually before 2015, said Jian Jingwen, deputy head of the equipment department at the State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation. (Live Mint/WSJ) Read more
China's synthetic gas plants will produce seven times more emissions than natural gas
Coal-powered synthetic natural gas plants being planned in China would produce seven times more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional natural gas plants, and use up to 100 times the water as shale gas production, according to a new study by Duke University researchers. "Using coal to make natural gas may be good for China's energy security, but it's an environmental disaster in the making," said Robert B. Jackson, Nicholas Professor of Environmental Sciences and director of the Duke Center on Global Change. (Phys Org) Read more
