China to deepen energy reform in the next five years

Cars line up for refueling in Beijing. By the end of 2020, China aims to increase non-fossil energy to 15 percent of total primary energy consumption and raise the share of renewable energy in production. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - China aims to innovate and upgrade the energy system in the next five years to make it greener and more integrated with the Internet, the country's energy watchdog said in a statement Wednesday.

The readjustment of the energy system should implement the key proposals from the 13th Five-year Plan (2016-2020), said Nur Bekri, head of the National Energy Administration (NEA), at a seminar in Beijing.

The administration pledged to adopt measures to develop core energy technologies, as well as to promote the industrialization of more developed technology.

It will continue to coordinate resources in developing energy industries, building smart grids and distributed energy resources, using the Internet, and efficiently allocating resources in coal and thermal power production and oil refining.

It also stressed green development, and urged a better proportion for non-fossil energy and natural gas in overall primary energy consumption.

The NEA also stressed promoting exports of equipment, technology and services related to renewable energy.

In a proposal for China's development over the next five years, the country's leadership promised an "energy revolution" with clean, safe resources such as wind, solar, biomass, water, geothermal and nuclear energy replacing fossil fuels, in addition to exploring natural, shale and coal bed gas deposits.

By the end of 2020, China aims to increase non-fossil energy to 15 percent of total primary energy consumption and raise the share of renewable energy in production.

The State Council released an action plan on energy development for 2014-2020 last November, promising more efficient, self-sufficient, green and innovative energy production and consumption.