Brussels, 20/02/2006 (Agence Europe) - The EU-China partnership in science and research into clean energy is progressing to the benefit of the environment and the global fight against climate change. On the occasion of the sixth EU-China conference on energy, Andris Piebalgs, the European Energy Commissioner and Ma Songde, the Chinese vice-Minister for Science and Technology, will next week in Shanghai sign an agreement protocol on technologies for the production of electricity with almost zero emissions. This protocol will encourage the development of technologies for the capture and underground storage of carbon dioxide from coal-fired power stations, which could play a significant role in fighting climate change. Carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power stations have grown rapidly and are a major problem for long-term climate stability. “Tackling the carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants is an important step in improving the global environment. By reducing the environmental impact of coal, it will remain a viable part of our energy mix for some time” says Andris Piebalgs in a press release. This is a hard-hitting argument, since China, the world's second largest energy consumer after the USA, is highly dependent on coal, which represents 70% of its energy consumption. In 2004, China's share on global consumption of coal was around 34%, and its contribution to the growth in global consumption of coal was 74%. Janez Potocnik, the Science and Research Commissioner, welcomed “this new agreement on zero emission power generation” as an advance in the EU/China scientific partnership.
Among the major subjects to be discussed in Shanghai are the security of energy supplies, the promotion of renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency, strengthening nuclear safety and the interaction between energy, research and the environment. The EU/China conference on energy is held every two years and brings together high-level representatives of European and Chinese industry. It will give Andris Piebalgs an opportunity to attend conferences on cooperation in the areas of electricity and natural gas, and to visit innovative plants - including those of the Huayi group which already uses clean combustion and high yield technologies, and the Boashan steelworks which is currently developing low energy-consuming technology.