China-proposed energy initiative foresighted in solving world problems: US expert

BOSTON, the United States - The China-proposed global energy interconnection (GEI) initiative provides a visionary solution for the world to make a transition from fossil-fuel based energy to a renewable energy future, a US expert said.

Proposed by China in 2015, GEI is a globally interconnected strong and smart grid with ultra-high voltage (UHV) grid as the backbone, which will serve as a platform for extensive development, deployment and utilization of clean energy worldwide.

"What is important of the global interconnection idea is that it provides a visionary future in which we are able to use solar energy and wind energy in a constructive way to address problems of the world," Michael B. McElroy, professor of environmental studies at Harvard University, told Xinhua on Tuesday.

Studies have showed that if implemented smoothly, GEI will basically be in place by 2050 and help create a world where clean energy generates more than 81 percent of the total amount of electricity globally.

The plan will add 0.2 percent annual growth to the world economy, lower the cost of electricity by 2.8 cents per kWh compared to the current price, and create a total of over 100 million jobs.

McElroy, who is also the director of the Harvard-China Project on energy, environment and economy, believed that the cooperation between China and the United States in the energy sector is very important and there are a number of ways of sustaining such cooperation within the GEI framework.

"There is going to be strong connection between individual US companies and Chinese equivalents, and then there is going to be strong leadership in the individual states in the United States to consider about the issue," the expert said.

"The research work we are doing at Harvard is also important, we are very committed to a strong relationship with China in this particular area," he said.

"There is a great deal of basic support of the renewable energy issue in the United States. I am pretty much optimistic that we can do things together," he added.