China is experiencing intensified industrialisation and motorisation. In the world's largest emerging
economy, energy efficiency is expected to play a critical role in the ever-rising demand for energy. Based
on factual overviews and numerical analysis, this article carries out an in-depth investigation into the
effectiveness of policies announced or implemented in recent decades targeted at energy conservation in
the energy intensive manufacturing and transportation sectors. It highlights nine energy intensive
sectors that achieved major improvements in their energy technology efficiency efforts. Under the
umbrella of the 11th Five-Year Plan, these sectors' performances reflect the effectiveness of China's
energy conservation governance. Numerous actions have been taken in China to reduce the road
transport sector's demand for energy and its GHG emissions by implementing fuel economy standards,
promoting advanced energy efficient vehicles, and alternative fuels.
Coal-based energy saving technologies, especially industrial furnace technologies, are critical for
China's near and medium-term energy saving. In the long run, renewable energy development and
expanding the railway transport system are the most effective ways to reduce energy use and GHG
emissions in China. Fuel economy standards could reduce oil consumption and GHGs by 34–35 per cent.
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