Interview with Liu Zhongmin, Academician of the Academy of Engineering: Drawing up a roadmap for energy development

Draw a good energy development roadmap

——Interview with Liu Zhongmin, Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of National Energy Low-Carbon Catalysis and Engineering Research and Development Center

Economic Daily reporter: She Huimin

What support can scientific and technological innovation provide to achieve the goal of "carbon peak" and "carbon neutrality"? On this topic, a reporter from the Economic Daily interviewed Liu Zhongmin, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, director of the National Energy Low-Carbon Catalysis and Engineering Research and Development Center, and director of the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Reporter: Why does my country formulate the goal of achieving "carbon peak" by 2030 and "carbon neutral" by 2060?

Liu Zhongmin: Achieving "carbon peak" and "carbon neutrality" is a broad and profound economic and social systemic change.

At present, China's energy development is facing two major problems, one is security, and the other is development under environmental constraints.

In human history, the energy revolution and the industrial revolution have always been interactive.

Reporter: How do you understand the "carbon peak" and "carbon neutral" goals?

Liu Zhongmin: "Carbon peaking" means that carbon dioxide emissions no longer increase and gradually decline after reaching the peak; "Carbon neutral" means that carbon dioxide emissions generated by itself are offset by afforestation, energy saving and emission reduction, structural adjustment and natural absorption, etc.

Of course, carbon dioxide cannot be "demonized", after all, it is closely related to human production and living activities.

　　Reporter: my country has the status quo of "rich coal, lack of oil, and little gas".

　　Liu Zhongmin: Carbon dioxide emissions are directly related to the types, utilization methods and total utilization of energy resources.

　　From the perspective of the energy sector, the biggest difficulty is that my country's energy systems are relatively independent, the overall efficiency is not high, and the structure is unreasonable.

　　To achieve the goal of "carbon neutrality", it is necessary to change the fossil energy-led energy system established since the industrial revolution and gradually transform it into an energy system dominated by non-fossil energy.

　　Reporter: What role will scientific and technological innovation play in achieving the goal of "carbon neutrality"?

　　Liu Zhongmin: The energy revolution and the industrial revolution are fundamentally dependent on the technological revolution, and technological innovation is the basis for supporting the realization of the goal of "carbon neutrality".

　　But to achieve the goal of "carbon neutrality", the existing technology system still has great difficulties.

　　Reporter: Do you have any suggestions for the systematic layout of "carbon neutral" technological innovation across fields?

　　Liu Zhongmin: First, we must strengthen the top-level design and formulate a roadmap for breakthroughs in core technologies.

　　Second, we must work together across fields to promote breakthroughs in the multi-energy integration technology system.

　　Third, we must give play to the leading role of typical demonstrations, and promote the formation of a new pattern of national low-carbon development from point to point.

　　Fourth, we must build a platform for technological innovation, promote the integration of technology, finance and capital, and promote the transformation of results.