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Pages 1-14

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From page 1...
... The United States and China face similar technical and economic constraints in terms of scaling up renewables' share of power generation: with the exception of hydropower and some wind and geothermal, most renewable power generation is not presently cost-competitive with baseload rates based on coal-fired power; and geographically, concentrations of electricity demand and high-quality renew able energy resources are far apart. However, renewable power offers several advantages over conventional generation, including low emissions of air pollut ants, low fuel costs, and in many cases relatively quick deployment.
From page 2...
... Conventional hydropower is the predominant source of renewable power, and China still has abundant potential large-scale resources that might be developed. Massive solar and wind resources exist in remote regions of each country, but both the United States and China lack the large-scale transmission infrastructure to access these resources, and there is debate as to how much of these resources can and will be exploited cost efficiently.
From page 3...
... generated, not merely GW of installed capacity, because capacity factors of variable-output renewable power technologies are lower than for fossil and nuclear energy or baseload renewable power sources such as biomass and geothermal energy. China has made impressive strides to improve its manufacturing capability in wind turbines and solar PV systems, although the latter are almost exclusively being sold as exports.
From page 4...
... As both countries look ahead, there are certain opportunities to shift this trajectory in a way that will enable renewable power sources to come on line more quickly and increase their contribution to the overall energy portfolio.
From page 5...
... Scenario modeling (combining geographic information systems with esti mated economic resource assessments, renewable technology development with time, current and possible evolution of transmission infrastructure, and balancing costs) is becoming increasingly important for planning and rational development of both traditional and renewable energy resources.
From page 6...
... As both countries continue and accelerate the build out of renewable power generation facilities, it would be highly beneficial if a mechanism can be established to rapidly exchange information. Although learning and cost reductions have already been achieved from deployment in the United States, the rapid growth of renewable energy projects in China is likely to expand learning opportunities.
From page 7...
... Increas ing system efficiencies and operating lifetimes will reduce environmental impacts for all renewable power technologies. In addition, it is critical that both countries apply and enforce regulations to ensure that waste products of renewable energy equipment manufacturing, particularly those from silicon PV panels, are mini mized and handled properly.
From page 8...
... In less than a decade, China has emerged as a worldleader in manufacturing of renewable power technologies and has linked this sector's development to its overall national strategy for economic growth. Both countries set subsidy values specific to particular resources (wind, solar, etc.)
From page 9...
... Both countries could benefit from programs to capture performance data from renewable energy technologies operating in the field and the distribution of the data throughout the supply chain. China's renewable power market could experience a more rapid evolution by establishing more formal and informal mechanisms to capture this organizational learning.
From page 10...
... Given the scale of the climate challenge, there is now an additional impetus to continue and even enhance this sort of collaboration. The United States and China have a history of bilateral cooperation on renewable energy technologies and policy dating back to 1979, including the 1995 Protocol for Cooperation in the Fields of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Technology Development and Utilization between the U.S.
From page 11...
... and that Chinese researchers and grid and power plant operators to each other's coun tries, would foster more organizational learning in the fields of renewable power development and grid integration and would help to promote understanding and trust in the years to come.. RECOMMENDATIONS Specific recommendations have been limited to those that the committees judge to be most likely to accelerate the pace of deployment, increase cost-com petitiveness, or shape the future market for renewable energy.
From page 12...
... standard grid interconnection for both distributed, customer-sited resources and whole, central station resources. The United States has experience with developing standards through the National Institute of Stan dards and Technology, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and professional
From page 13...
... Recommendation 9 • China should establish national facilities with capabilities to test performance and safety characteristics of complete renewable power systems and their subcomponents. Examples include testing PV systems to UL1 standards or evaluating the Power Curve from a small wind turbine.
From page 14...
... As both countries increasingly acknowledge, their leadership and cooperation on renewable energy develop ment will be key to addressing these challenges.


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