On May 14, 2017, President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road International Cooperation Summit Forum, proposing that "we must seize the new round of energy structure adjustment and energy technology transformation trends, build a global energy Internet, and achieve green and low-carbon development." This is another proposal to build a global energy Internet on an important international stage after President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the United Nations Development Summit on September 26, 2015. This major concept is a Chinese wisdom and Chinese solution to effectively solve the world's energy problems and promote the sustainable development of mankind, and has received high praise and positive response from the international community.

Building a global energy Internet is a vivid practice of world energy innovation and development

The global energy Internet is a global energy allocation platform with ultra-high voltage power grid as the backbone grid, based on smart grids, and transmitting clean energy. It uses clean energy such as wind, light, and water to replace fossil energy generation, and then uses ultra-high voltage transmission technology to transport these clean electricity to thousands of households safer, more reliable and more economical through the interconnected power grids between regions, countries and continents. The core concept of global energy Internet construction is clean development. The implementation method is "two substitutions", namely, implementing clean substitution in energy development, and promoting the transformation of the energy structure from fossil energy to clean energy as the main focus; implementing electric energy substitution in energy consumption, and increasing the proportion of electricity in terminal energy consumption. Its essence is to develop clean energy and realize the interconnection of the power grid. On September 26, 2015, President Xi Jinping pointed out in an important speech at the United Nations Development Summit that "China advocates to explore the construction of a global energy Internet and promote the meeting of global electricity demand in a clean and green way." President Xi Jinping’s important speech profoundly clarified the fundamental purpose of building a global energy Internet and pointed out the direction for global energy transformation and development and the formation of a global clean energy consumption pattern. Judging from the world's development trend, clean energy will gradually replace fossil energy, and various types of clean energy will be mainly converted into electricity use. Electricity can meet all terminal energy needs, and the future energy system will inevitably be a power transmission network dominated by clean energy and power as the core.

The global energy Internet has the core goal of promoting the development and utilization of clean energy. It is an energy network integrating energy transmission, resource allocation, market transactions, information interaction, scientific and technological research and development, and intelligent services. It has the characteristics of a strong network, extensive interconnection, highly intelligent and open interaction. It is a green and low-carbon, interconnected, and open and shared energy allocation system, with huge comprehensive economic, social and environmental value. The global energy Internet has the characteristics of consultation, joint construction, sharing and win-win. It is an inevitable choice and pragmatic action for countries around the world to share the responsibility of low-carbon emission reduction, share the results of clean development, and jointly build a peaceful and harmonious world. It is a creative application of the shared development concept in the field of energy.

Building a global energy Internet is of great significance and far-reaching impact

As a major change and innovation in the energy field, President Xi Jinping’s idea of building a global energy Internet has drawn a new blueprint for future world energy development, which will surely profoundly change all aspects of global energy development, economic growth, social life, etc., and has far-reaching significance in the history of human energy development.

Promote energy transformation. Supported by the global energy Internet, we can give full play to the scale effect of the energy network, realize the overall optimization and real-time adjustment of the clean energy production, transportation and distribution system, and make the development, allocation and consumption of clean energy more efficient. Clean energy with huge reserves will benefit all mankind, making energy supply more sufficient, energy security more reliable, and energy platforms stronger. Relying on the global energy Internet, in the future, we can not only achieve low-cost clean energy supply, but also meet energy demand through intelligent energy consumption systems, establish an orderly energy supply and demand regulation mechanism, significantly improving the stability, security and sustainability of energy supply. Building a global energy Internet and achieving breakthroughs in energy production technology, energy transmission technology, and energy consumption technology will provide opportunities for global energy technology innovation and energy management innovation, and reshape the world's energy allocation pattern.

Solve environmental problems. Global fossil energy combustion emits more than 30 billion tons of carbon dioxide, about 120 million tons of sulfur dioxide, about 100 million tons of nitrogen oxides, and a large number of pollutants such as smoke and dust, which not only causes serious pollution and damage to the atmosphere, water quality, soil, etc., but also is the main cause of climate change. Building a global energy Internet and replacing fossil energy with clean energy will effectively reduce the emissions of various pollutants and promote ecological restoration and environmental protection.

Promote economic recovery. Against the backdrop of weak global economic recovery, the construction of the global energy Internet is conducive to the upgrading of the energy structure, promoting industrial structure adjustment, driving the development of upstream and downstream industries, and promoting the development of green industries; it can drive the infrastructure construction of various countries and increase employment in large quantities; it can promote the optimal allocation of energy factors in countries around the world, provide new impetus for the development of various countries, and provide a new engine for global economic growth; it can also promote the development and utilization of renewable energy in developing countries, transform resource advantages into economic advantages, and promote the accelerated development of developing countries. Therefore, building a global energy Internet is an important breakthrough in promoting global economic recovery.

Improve human welfare. Real problems such as climate warming, ecological deterioration, and environmental pollution on a global scale are challenges faced by all mankind. The global energy Internet is based on the transmission of clean energy, and promotes green and clean energy to replace fossil energy. It is expected to solve resource difficulties and environmental problems from the source, inject continuous impetus into human development, and truly realize the vision of sustainable development of mankind. Building a global energy Internet and transmitting clean energy from rich areas to all over the world can solve the development problems of energy-scarce areas, effectively alleviate political, military and diplomatic conflicts caused by energy resource disputes, promote balanced distribution and exchange of resources, and allow everyone to enjoy affordable clean energy. Therefore, it is an important measure to improve human welfare.

Work together to create a bright future for global energy Internet

From now until the middle of this century, it is an important strategic opportunity period for building a global energy Internet. Overall, the construction of global energy Internet can make major breakthroughs in the following paths. First, through domestic clean energy development, power grid technology accumulation, and network capacity building in various countries, domestic power grid interconnection will be realized. Second, some countries such as Europe, North America, and the CIS have achieved large power grid interconnection, and on this basis, they can further promote the interconnection within various continents. Third, gradually form a global Internet network and allocation base, form a regional energy allocation center, technology R&D center, equipment manufacturing center, talent exchange center, and financial service center, and ultimately realize cross-continental power grid interconnection. At present, the resources, technology, economic and political conditions for building a global energy Internet are basically in place. Countries around the world should seize this favorable opportunity to jointly promote the accelerated development of the global energy Internet.

Give full play to the leading role of strategic planning. We should further unify our thinking and raise our awareness, and incorporate the global energy Internet concept of green, low-carbon, interconnected, and co-construction and sharing into the energy development strategies of various countries. Strengthen top-level design, scientifically plan the development of global energy Internet, guide and promote the development of various clean energy, transnational cross-continental energy channels and backbone grids of various continents, and promote the close connection between power planning of various countries and global energy Internet planning.

Give full play to the supporting role of innovation-driven. Focus on promoting breakthroughs in the development of key technologies, equipment and standard construction, and comprehensively improve the security, economy and reliability of the global energy Internet. At present, China has made comprehensive breakthroughs in ultra-high voltage, smart grid, clean energy, and large grid operation control. Relying on the construction of global energy Internet, Chinese technology, Chinese equipment, and Chinese standards can go abroad and serve the world, allowing the world to share China's innovative achievements.

Give full play to the role of financial services as guaranteed. The global energy Internet is an energy infrastructure covering the world, an important force in promoting the development of the real economy, and has a broad development prospect. In the construction of global energy Internet, leveraging the advantages of the sharing economy to discuss and build energy infrastructure, and sharing clean energy through smart grids can greatly improve energy utilization efficiency and promote economic development of various countries. It is estimated that by 2050, the cumulative investment in global energy Internet construction will exceed US$50 trillion. Faced with such huge investment demand, we should comprehensively use various financing tools and innovate financing methods, such as establishing a global energy Internet development fund with multiple participation, giving full play to the role of various financial institutions such as development, policy, and commercial, and providing all-round financial guarantees for the construction of global energy Internet.

Give full play to the role of promoting international cooperation. Building a global energy Internet is a systematic project that requires gathering global wisdom and strength. Under the new situation of global political, economic and energy changes, international organizations play an important role in promoting policy connection, strategic docking and planning coordination among various countries. In March 2016, China initiated the establishment of the Global Energy Internet Development Cooperation Organization to build a cross-border, cross-professional and cross-field international cooperation platform, which has become the core force in promoting the development of the global energy Internet. At present, we should actively support the work of the Global Energy Internet Development Cooperation Organization with practical actions, establish its international status, and promote it to strengthen cooperation with countries around the world in international cooperation, technology and equipment, and standard construction, and sing the "Chinese voice" in the construction of a new global energy governance system.

As an advocate for global energy Internet construction, China should play an important role in global energy Internet construction. We should seize the trend of the new round of energy structure adjustment and energy technology transformation, firmly grasp the general direction of world energy transformation and transformation, give full play to China's technical advantages and practical experience in ultra-high voltage transmission and smart grids, accelerate the construction of domestic energy Internet, build a national unified power network market, promote the large-scale development and transmission of hydropower in the southwest and wind power and solar power generation in the north and north, form a new pattern of energy allocation with west-east power transmission, north-south power supply, water and fire mutual assistance, and wind and light complementarity, create a global energy Internet model, and achieve coordinated progress of economic and social development and ecological and environmental protection. At present, China is working with countries around the world to deepen the construction of the "Belt and Road". President Xi Jinping pointed out that to promote the construction of the "Belt and Road", we must grasp the key landmark projects and strive to bear fruit as soon as possible. Power grid interconnection is an area where major breakthroughs are available for the construction of the "Belt and Road" and has a comprehensive driving role in the implementation of the construction of the "Belt and Road". We should integrate the construction of energy Internet into the construction of the "Belt and Road", accelerate the promotion of power grid connectivity with countries participating in the "Belt and Road", and achieve more tangible results.

By earnestly studying and taking positive actions to implement the spirit of President Xi Jinping’s important speech on building a global energy Internet, we will be able to deeply integrate into the world’s energy system, give full play to unique advantages in the construction of the global energy Internet, lead diversified innovation, and promote win-win results for all parties, meet global energy needs in a clean and green way, promote the continuous progress of global energy Internet construction, and contribute Chinese wisdom and Chinese strength to promote global energy change and the sustainable development of human society.

(Author’s unit: Guanghua School of Management, Peking University)

"People's Daily" (page 07, July 3, 2017)