China became the world's largest consumer of energy, passing the US in 2009, according to calculations done by the International Energy Agency
The IEA estimates that in 2009 China used 2.252 billion tons of oil equivalent, a measure of the total energy used - from oil, coal, renewables and all energy sources - while the US used 4% less. However, on a per capita basis, the average American still uses far more energy than the average Chinese.
July 21, 2010 (China disputes IEA)
July 4, 2010
The Chinese National Energy Administration (link) disputed the calculation, asserting the calculations are in error, and though China may become the largest producer, it is not the largest user. The Paris-based IEA stands by its data.
The IEA estimates that in 2009 China used 2.252 billion tons of oil equivalent, a measure of the total energy used - from oil, coal, renewables and all energy sources - while the US used 4% less. However, on a per capita basis, the average American still uses far more energy than the average Chinese.
In response to a question asked at an energy policy seminar in Sacramento, Lynn Price, a senior researcher at the China Energy Group at Lawrence Berkeley Lab said, "It does not matter whether China passed the US this year or last year or next year but that China's energy use is growing extremely rapidly."
Indeed, in 2000 China's energy use was only half that of the US. But in the last decade, the US energy use grew slowly, declining since 2008, while China energy use has continued to grow rapidly and now matches the US.
Even if the exact timing is not important, the significance may be a harbinger. The US passed the UK in energy use 100 years ago and went on to become the leading economic power of the 20th century.
China's rapid increase in energy use has already had ramifications in world energy markets, diplomacy and seemingly mundane issues like the positioning of international pipelines.
China's rapid increase in energy use has already had ramifications in world energy markets, diplomacy and seemingly mundane issues like the positioning of international pipelines.
Yet China may not welcome the scruntiny and possible responsiblies of being the leading energy consumer. The IEA has often complained about the ambiguity in Chinese energy data. China, for its part, prefers to emphasize its energy efficiency or green energy policies.
Whatever the issue at the moment, a natural question might be, given China's voracious and growing energy appetite, just how high can its energy use go?
In the next 15 years, China may expand its energy production by an amount equal to half of what the US consumes today. China may eventually have a fifth of the world's population, but consume a quarter of the world's energy
As much as China works to be green and energy-efficient, including higher auto fuel efficiency standards than in the US, its citizens also want to have simple modern conveniences, which means more energy.
July 18, 2010
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703720504575376712353150310.html
As much as China works to be green and energy-efficient, including higher auto fuel efficiency standards than in the US, its citizens also want to have simple modern conveniences, which means more energy.
July 18, 2010
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703720504575376712353150310.html
July 21, 2010 (China disputes IEA)
July 4, 2010
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