International experience of carbon neutrality and prospects of key technologies:Lessons for China

Carbon neutrality(or climate neutrality)has been a global consensus,and international experience exchange is essential.Given the differences in the degree of social development,resource endowment and technological level,each country should build a carbon-neutral plan based on its national conditions.Compared with other major developed countries(e.g.,Germany,the United States and Japan),China's carbon neutrality has much bigger challenges,including a heavy and time-pressured carbon reduction task and the current energy structure that is over-dependent on fossil fuels.Here we provide a comprehensive review of the status and prospects of the key technologies for low-carbon,near-zero carbon,and negative carbon emissions.Technological innovations associated with coal,oil-gas and hydrogen industries and their future potential in reducing carbon emissions are particularly explained and assessed.Based on integrated analysis of international experience from the world's major developed countries,in-depth knowledge of the current and future technologies,and China's energy and ecological resources potential,five lessons for the implementation of China's carbon neutrality are proposed:(1)transformation of energy production pattern from a coal-dominated pattern to a diversified renewable energy pattern;(2)renewable power-to-X and large-scale underground energy storage;(3)integration of green hydrogen production,storage,transport and utilization;(4)construction of clean energy systems based on smart sector coupling(ENSYSCO);(5)improvement of ecosystem carbon sinks both in nationwide forest land and potential desert in Northwest China.This paper provides an international perspective for a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities of carbon neutrality in China,and can serve as a theoretical foundation for medium-long term carbon neutral policy formulation.

Gleaning insights from German energy transition and large-scale underground energy storage for China’s carbon neutrality

The global energy transition is a widespread phenomenon that requires international exchange of experiences and mutual learning.Germany’s success in its first phase of energy transition can be attributed to its adoption of smart energy technology and implementation of electricity futures and spot marketization,which enabled the achievement of multiple energy spatial–temporal complementarities and overall grid balance through energy conversion and reconversion technologies.While China can draw from Germany’s experience to inform its own energy transition efforts,its 11-fold higher annual electricity consumption requires a distinct approach.We recommend a clean energy system based on smart sector coupling(ENSYSCO)as a suitable pathway for achieving sustainable energy in China,given that renewable energy is expected to guarantee 85%of China’s energy production by 2060,requiring significant future electricity storage capacity.Nonetheless,renewable energy storage remains a significant challenge.We propose four large-scale underground energy storage methods based on ENSYSCO to address this challenge,while considering China’s national conditions.These proposals have culminated in pilot projects for large-scale underground energy storage in China,which we believe is a necessary choice for achieving carbon neutrality in China and enabling efficient and safe grid integration of renewable energy within the framework of ENSYSCO.

Application and prospects of spatial information technology in CO_(2)sequestration monitoring

This paper systematically reviews the current applications of various spatial information technologies in CO_(2)sequestration monitoring,analyzes the challenges faced by spatial information technologies in CO_(2)sequestration monitoring,and prospects the development of spatial information technologies in CO_(2)sequestration monitoring.Currently,the spatial information technologies applied in CO_(2)sequestration monitoring mainly include five categories:eddy covariance method,remote sensing technology,geographic information system,Internet of Things technology,and global navigation satellite system.These technologies are involved in three aspects:monitoring data acquisition,positioning and data transmission,and data management and decision support.Challenges faced by the spatial information technologies in CO_(2)sequestration monitoring include:selecting spatial information technologies that match different monitoring purposes,different platforms,and different monitoring sites;establishing effective data storage and computing capabilities to cope with the broad sources and large volumes of monitoring data;and promoting collaborative operations by interacting and validating spatial information technologies with mature monitoring technologies.In the future,it is necessary to establish methods and standards for designing spatial information technology monitoring schemes,develop collaborative application methods for cross-scale monitoring technologies,integrate spatial information technologies with artificial intelligence and high-performance computing technologies,and accelerate the application of spatial information technologies in carbon sequestration projects in China.

Large-Scale Underground Storage of Renewable Energy Coupled with Power-to-X:Challenges,Trends,and Potentials in China

1.Introduction Promoting the green and low-carbon transition of energy systems and constructing a new renewable-dominated power system is essential to achieving carbon neutrality in China[1,2].Furthermore,implementing electrification and hydrogenation strategies to address energy consumption is necessary for a successful energy transition.China’s share of electricity in its total energy consumption is estimated to increase from 26%in 2021 to more than 70%by 2060.

Top 10 Influential Events in carbon neutrality and climate change response for 2023

In 2023, the global community intensified its efforts towards achieving carbon neutrality and addressing climate change, witnessing several impactful events. Research Institute of Carbon Neutrality, Shanghai Jiao Tong University compiled the Top 10 Events (in chronological order) in the field of global carbon neutrality and climate change response for 2023, to share with readers these significant moments that document the ongoing ambition and collective efforts of human society.

A preliminary site selection system for underground hydrogen storage in salt caverns and its application in Pingdingshan,China

Large‐scale underground hydrogen storage(UHS)provides a promising method for increasing the role of hydrogen in the process of carbon neutrality and energy transition.Of all the existing storage deposits,salt caverns are recognized as ideal sites for pure hydrogen storage.Evaluation and optimization of site selection for hydrogen storage facilities in salt caverns have become significant issues.In this article,the software CiteSpace is used to analyze and filter hot topics in published research.Based on a detailed classification and analysis,a“four‐factor”model for the site selection of salt cavern hydrogen storage is proposed,encompassing the dynamic demands of hydrogen energy,geological,hydrological,and ground factors of salt mines.Subsequently,20 basic indicators for comprehensive suitability grading of the target site were screened using the analytic hierarchy process and expert survey methods were adopted,which provided a preliminary site selection system for salt cavern hydrogen storage.Ultimately,the developed system was applied for the evaluation of salt cavern hydrogen storage sites in the salt mines of Pingdingshan City,Henan Province,thereby confirming its rationality and effectiveness.This research provides a feasible method and theoretical basis for the site selection of UHS in salt caverns in China.

The most influential“Top 10 Events”in carbon neutrality and climate change in 2022

Climate change is a serious challenge facing humankind.In 2022,many influential events occurred around carbon neutrality and addressing climate change.Research Institute of Carbon Neutrality of Shanghai Jiao Tong University eleborately selected the most influential“Top 10 Events”in carbon neutrality and climate change in 2022 to record the efforts of human society to deal with climate change.

Renewable synthetic fuel:turning carbon dioxide back into fuel

Climate change has emerged as one of the major challenges worldwide.Since the First Industrial Revolution,the discovery and utilization of fossil energy has promoted the great prosperity and development of human society.Meanwhile,serious issues of environmental and climate change have arisen.In May 2021,CO_(2) concentration in the atmosphere reached 419.13 ppm,observed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA)of US,which arrives at the highest value in human history[1].The CO_(2)-based greenhouse gas emissions lead to global warming,which causes a serious threat to the survival of human being as well as sustainable development of society.In September 2020,it was announced that China would scale up its nationally determined contributions and adopt more vigorous policies and activities to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.