At 10 a.m. on April 17, the State Council Information Office held a themed press conference themed Kicking off the 15th Five-Year Plan Period. Wang Changlin, Deputy Director of the National Development and Reform Commission, attended the event to brief on efforts to advance high-quality economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period and answered questions from journalists on hot issues.

During the conference, reporters raised questions about the Tenfold Growth Initiative for Non-fossil Energy proposed in the Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan, including whether the target applies to total energy volume or energy consumption, and whether the initiative takes 2025 as the base year and 2035 as the target year.

In response, Wang Changlin stated that the initiative serves as a key measure to build China’s new energy system. Different from the traditional energy system, the new energy system features non-fossil energy as the main supply source, fossil energy as the backup guarantee, new power systems as core support, and green, smart and economical energy utilization as the development orientation. It is a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy framework, an inevitable path for green and low-carbon energy transition, and a strategic choice to safeguard energy security and seize initiative in international competition.

He introduced that by the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China had basically established the framework of the new energy system. Its total energy output exceeded 5 billion tons of standard coal, annual electricity consumption topped 10 trillion kWh, and the world’s largest clean and low-carbon energy system took shape. The share of non-fossil energy in total energy consumption reached 21.7%, providing sufficient, high-quality and stable energy support for socialist modernization drive. He stressed that amid changing international situations affecting China’s oil and gas imports, comprehensive policy measures have ensured sufficient domestic oil supply and stable market operation, fully demonstrating the tangible achievements of the new energy system construction.

Wang clarified five key tasks for advancing the development of the new energy system in the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

First, accelerate the high-quality development of non-fossil energy. Coordinate the development of centralized and distributed clean energy, and steadily advance major projects such as Yaxia Hydropower Station and large-scale new energy bases in desert, Gobi and barren land areas. Balance new energy development and consumption, optimize the layout of flexible regulation resources, and enhance the power grid’s capacity to accommodate, allocate and regulate new energy power. Efforts will be made to expand the production and consumption scale of non-fossil energy power and promote the non-power application of non-fossil energy. It is expected that the supply scale of non-fossil energy will grow markedly by 2030 and double the 2025 level by 2035.

Second, advance the safe, reliable and orderly substitution of fossil energy. Boost domestic energy output, strengthen oil and gas reserve capacity construction, and consolidate the role of traditional energy in ensuring stable energy supply. Further promote electricity substitution in transportation, industry, construction and other key fields, accelerate the popularization of new energy heavy-duty trucks, and facilitate the peaking of oil and coal consumption.

Third, vigorously push forward energy technological innovation. Upgrade new energy power generation technologies, accelerate the R&D and application of new-generation coal-fired power technologies and flexible DC power transmission technologies, and make breakthroughs in key fields including long-duration energy storage, green power-based hydrogen, ammonia and alcohol production, and controllable nuclear fusion, so as to integrate energy technological innovation with industrial innovation in depth.

Fourth, further deepen reform of energy systems and mechanisms. Improve incentive mechanisms for green energy consumption, optimize investment mechanisms for energy projects, and guide enterprises of all ownership types, especially private enterprises, to participate in major energy projects. Fully implement policies such as new energy grid market access and direct green power connection.

Fifth, steadily expand high-standard international energy cooperation. Take an active part in global climate governance, promote mutual recognition of international standards for green power certificates and green power, and encourage enterprises to engage in overseas energy cooperation. Continue to diversify energy import sources.

Wang Changlin emphasized that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China will adhere to bottom-line thinking and extreme scenario thinking, further enhance domestic energy production and supply capacity, scale up energy reserves, improve overall emergency response capabilities, and effectively safeguard national energy security.