The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development covers 17 goals, the seventh of which is "affordable and clean energy", namely: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy. (Click here for details) 

Under this major goal, there are five targets, the seconf of which is "By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix".

● Current Situation

About the World

Remarkable Progress in Renewable Energy

Remarkable progress has been made in the field of renewable energy power generation, but its proportion in the overall final energy demand has hardly increased, i.e. from 9.6% in 2013 to 11% in 2018. Global demand for energy is still rising, but the proportion of renewable energy in energy supply is still limited. 

Photo source: chinapower.com.cn

Achievements of renewable energy have largely benefited from the policies and rules made many years ago, especially the transformation of the power industry. However, many barriers in the heating, cooling and transportation industries are almost the same as they were a decade ago. Governments still need to make more policies to create appropriate market conditions.

Text source: Renewables 2020 Global Status Report

About China

Leading the World in Renewable Energy

China is playing an increasingly prominent role in the field of renewable energy and is becoming the protagonist in realizing the transformation of the global energy structure. China is not only the world's largest producer of wind turbines and photovoltaic panels, but also the world's leading producer of renewable energy and the largest inflow of investment. 

Photo source: sina.com.cn

According to the report released by the United Nations renewable energy advisory body, China has become the largest investor in global renewable energy for the seventh consecutive year. In 2018, China's investment in renewable energy accounted for almost one-third of the world, reaching US $91.2 billion. China's renewable energy supply is growing day by day, and its renewable energy technology also occupies a leading position in the world.

Text source: nea.gov.cn

●  Cases

About the World

World's First Floating Offshore Wind Farm in Scotland

Wind power is a growing source of renewable energy. There is increasing demand for wind turbine generators offshore, as offshore wind is steadier and stronger than it is on land. Additionally, offshore wind farms have less visual impact on the landscape.

The Hywind wind farm in Scotland has proved that floating offshore wind power generation is a feasible option. Through the large-scale and commercial development of floating offshore wind power projects in the future, offshore wind power will have great competitiveness.

Text and photo source: theexplorer.no

First Offshore Wind Power Hydrogen Production Site

Hydrogen energy, especially renewable hydrogen will be mainly obtained by electrolyzing water with renewable energy. Hydrogen production by offshore wind power has many advantages.

In July 2019, the Q13a-A offshore platform of Neptune Energy of the Netherlands was selected as the world's first offshore wind power hydrogen production test site. The project is named PosHydon and will organically integrate three energy forms in the North Sea: offshore wind energy, offshore natural gas and hydrogen energy. The test site was jointly initiated by Nexstep, the Dutch Association for Retirement and Reuse (DADR) and TNO, together with some Dutch energy industry enterprises. The project will be officially put into production by the end of 2021.

Text and photo source: chinapower.com.cn

About China

Jiangxia Tidal Power Station

Tidal power stations take seawater as the working medium and uses the drop between seawater level and reservoir water level to generate electricity. Jiangxia Tidal Power Station in Zhejiang province is a pioneer in the development and utilization of marine energy and the largest tidal power station in China. A total of 6 two-way tidal generating units are installed, with a total power of 4000 KW, ranking fourth in the world after Shihua Lake Tidal Power Station in South Korea, Lance Tidal Power Station in France and Annapolis Tidal Power Station in Canada.

Photo source: baidu.com

Jiangxia Tidal Power Station has generated more than 200 million kilowatts. Tidal power stations have no dry season problem, and the stability can be accurately predicted. The construction of tidal power station does not require resettlement, which not only has no inundation loss, but also can reclaim a large area of land, which has comprehensive utilization benefits such as aquaculture, marine chemical industry, transportation and tourism.

Text source: yicai.com

Carbon Reduction in Agricultural and Food

The United Nations Global Compact officially released the Corporate Net Zero Pathway, which is the world's first key report issued by a United Nations agency to comprehensively guide enterprises to achieve carbon neutralization. Yili Group's carbon reduction practice has become the only case in the world's agricultural and food industry.

In 2021, Yili officially launched the Yili Group Carbon Neutralization to calculate the product carbon footprint of each product line in the whole life cycle. Among them, Yili Jindian organic milk is the typical case of Yili's carbon reduction work. In 2020, Jindian used 4.946 billion packages of FSC packaging materials, which is equivalent to promoting the management of 185500 mu of sustainable forest. On this year’s World Enviroment Day Jindian launched the first plant-based material packaging in China. Some of the packaging materials of plant-based came from recyclable and renewable resources - sugarcane, which effectively reduced the carbon footprint. 

Text and photo source:sznews.com

●  Background

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Initiated by the United Nations

On 1 January, 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 169 targets, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.