Change of coal energy status and green and low-carbon development under the “dual carbon” goal

Abstract

While giving full play to the role of coal energy security supply, it is an important proposition related to national energy security and overall development to realize green and safe mining and clean and low-carbon utilization of coal resources. This paper analyzes the influence of changes in the international development environment on the China’s utilization of oil and gas resources in the international market, and studies the rigid demand for energy supply in China. Based on the current situation of energy development and utilization with coal as the main energy source in China and following the fundamental requirements of building a harmonious modernization between man and nature, this paper puts forward the green and low-carbon development direction and path of coal industry in the process of realizing the goal of “dual carbon”. ① China’s external dependence on oil and gas resources exceeds 70% and 40% respectively, and its strategic reserves are insufficient. Under the background of profound changes in the international situation, the uncertainty of using oil and gas resources in the international market increases, and the external risks of national energy security have increased. ② Building a modern country will inevitably lead to the rigid growth of energy demand. At present, it is difficult for new energy sources to replace fossil energy safely and effectively, and the main energy position of fossil energy will be difficult to change in the short term. ③ Comparing with the “dual carbon” goal, the proportion of coal consumption before the peak shows a continuous downward trend, and the total consumption will usher in an inflection point. After the peak, the main energy position of coal will be weakened, but the role of strategic mineral resources and coal-based raw materials will be further highlighted. ④ Driven by the goal of “dual carbon”, the basic national conditions with coal as the main energy source determine that coal will continue to undertake the important mission of energy security supply and further play the role of strategic mineral resource as raw material. However, the high carbon resource attribute of coal determines that the development and utilization of coal will face the dual pressures of ensuring supply and reducing carbon emissions. Therefore, in order to serve the high-quality economic and social development, which requires security and green and low-carbon energy supply, it must be based on the current characteristics of energy production and supply with coal as the main energy source and new energy as the supplement at this stage, and take the new progress of ecological civilization construction as the fundamental principle. The research on the key technologies should be enhanced such as the technologies of coal mining and ecological carbon sink, CO2 geological storage in deep coal seams and coal mined-out areas, and collaborative development and utilization of new energy in coal mining areas, which will support the high-quality development of the China's coal industry with technological innovation under the goal of “dual carbon”.

Keywords

• “dual carbon” goal
• energy security
• coal energy status
• green and low-carbon development
• technical challenges