The Trade War is derailing China’s efforts to go green.
 
The trade conflict between China and the U.S. has dragged on for over a year now, and, with the cancellation of this year’s APEC summit where a “Phase One” trade deal was scheduled to be signed, the way forward is far from clear.
 
“At this time of global political tension can China and the U.S. recommit to a shared future?” asked the former CEO of International Finance Corporation, Cai Jinyong, during a town hall.
 
“We are at a critical juncture. If we cannot work together I think we will set back the global sustainability drive for many years”
— Cai Jinyong, former CEO of International Finance Corporation
 
One environmental consequence of the 16-month long trade war can be seen in Brazil, where swathes of the Amazon rainforest are being cleared to make way for farmland to meet Chinese demand for soy.
 
That appetite used to be satisfied by U.S. crops. Energy supply will also likely be impacted, Cai warns, noting that China’s efforts to reduce its coal consumption could be negated if the Trade War limits China’s capability to develop cleaner tech.
 
Economic Survival or Environmental Commitments?
 
With China’s economic growth at its slowest in nearly 30 years, industry data as well as speeches from leaders and industry officials suggest a renewed willingness to lean on coal for power, especially in old mining regions.
 
“We continue to work hard to advance the fight against climate change, but on the other hand, we are indeed facing multiple challenges such as developing the economy, improving the people’s livelihoods, eliminating poverty and controlling pollution”
— Zhao Yingmin, China’s vice environment minister
 
Beijing promised this year to show the “highest possible ambition” when revising its emissions pledges next year, although it did not commit to more stringent binding targets.
 
But China has built 42.9 GW of new coal-fired power capacity since the start of last year, with another 121 GW under construction.
 
That compares with 35 GW of coal-fired power added in 2017 and 38 GW in 2016.
 
Much of the debate centers on how well renewables can supply reliable baseload power to China in the future and support major initiatives like vehicle electrification.
 
According to a research institute run by the State Grid Corporation of China, the country will need 1,250 GW to 1,400 GW of coal-fired power over the long term to guarantee stable electricity supplies, up from around 1,000 GW now.
 
“Since coal is still a major resource, we will continue to rely on coal when we need it - and right now for instance, the economy is slowing and renewables are still relatively weak”
— Lin Boqiang, dean of the China Institute for Energy Policy Studies
 
Electricity System Operators: The TSO / RTO / ISO’s Role
 
A renewable energy future depends on high-voltage DC transmission.
 
It is widely agreed that one of the best ways to reduce carbon emissions around the globe is to bring more renewable energy on-line.
 
However, the current century-old grid system presents challenges to this goal, with inefficient infrastructure and independent grid systems.
 
Moreover, new transmission and distribution projects potentially face significant delays related to right-of-way issues, such as permits for crossing waterways or resistance from residential neighborhoods, as well as limited financing options related to high upfront investments.
 
Collectively, these issues are slowing the rollout of renewable energy projects.
 
That’s where high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems come in.
 
HVDC can be more expensive to build, but is more cost-effective over the long term compared to the more common alternating current (AC) systems.
 
Despite the upfront costs, HVDC is rising in popularity around the globe for its ability to:
Interconnect grids across borders
Allow three times as much power to be transferred over longer distances — such as from a remote wind farm to an urban metropolis — and
Control intermittent power with the lowest loss of energy
 
An HVDC transmission system is the renewable energy industry’s best bet for expediting the deployment of cheap, clean power for our everyday electricity needs.
 
But urgent policy support around regulations and financing is needed for HVDC technology to continue on its positive trend.
 
Financing, Financing, Financing: Green Bonds
 
In 2015 TenneT published a Green Bonds Framework which serves as a structure for verifying the sustainability quality of the projects to be financed through the issuance of green debt instruments. The Framework was prepared in collaboration with oekom research AG.
 
The Green Bond Framework serves as a structure for verifying the sustainability quality — i.e. the social and environmental added value — of the projects to be financed through the Green Bond issuance.
 
It comprises firstly the definition of use of proceeds categories offering social and/or environmental added value and secondly the specific sustainability criteria by means of which this added value and therefore the sustainability performance of the Green Bond issue can be clearly identified and verified.
 
The sustainability criteria are complemented by specific indicators, which make it possible to enable possible quantitative measurement of the sustainability performance of the Green Bond issue and can be used for comprehensive reporting.
 
Benchmark with Leaders from TenneT and KEPCO at the HVDC China 2020 Conference
 
The Center for Energy Sustainability and Economics and the HVDC China 2020 Secretariat are pleased to welcome the best of the industry to the 3rd Annual HVDC Energy Highways Conference!
 
Click here to propose a presentation topic and join them among the speaker line-up to be announced after the New Year!
 
Proudly Announcing Shanghai’s Most Central and Iconic Hotel as Our Conference Venue
 
Promote your HVDC solutions to the owners and operators of HVDC testing facilities, converter stations, and other high-voltage assets joining us for the 3rd Annual HVDC Energy Highways Conference happening July 29-30, 2020 at the prestigious and centrally-located Westin Bund Center in Shanghai, China!
 
Only two blocks from the colonial wharves and stone-clad structures of the Bund, the Westin Bund Center Shanghai mixes the service one might expect from a bygone era of elegance with the modern amenities one would expect from a five star hotel in a booming metropolis.
 
The hotel sits inside the iconic Bund Center Complex, rising high above the western bank of the Huangpu River.
 
This prime location means that many of the 570 rooms and suites gaze across the water to the epic skyscrapers on the opposite bank.
 
Other rooms enjoy similarly spectacular views, of the nearby Yuyuan Garden (a tranquil must-see site) and the bustling city beyond.
 
Click here to discover the exhibition floor plan and select your location within the conference!
 
Face to Face is Needed
 
China offers investors certainty, resilience, and scale that is not matched by even the United States’ electricity market.
 
But questions such as the above are unlikely to be resolved over telephone or email, and face-to-face meetings are absolutely necessary to take the conversation forward.
 
Wouldn’t it benefit you to meet the General Managers, Heads of Finance, and CEOs of organizations such as State Grid, China Southern Power Grid Co., Goldman Sachs Securities, the National Energy Administration (NEA), Citic Securities Co. Ltd., and many more, face to face in high-level, private discussions all at a single place?
 
Surely it would be a great time-saver that would increase the efficiency of your market efforts in the world’s largest electricity market!
 
The 3rd Annual HVDC Energy Highways Conference in Shanghai
 
The Center for Energy Sustainability and Economics’ 3rd Building and Operating HVDC Energy Highways Executive Conference will take place July 29-30, 2020 at the Westin Bund Center in Shanghai, China.
 
HVDC Energy Highways is the premier event for electric utility professionals and contracting, construction, and consulting companies who are interested in senior executive-level insight and solutions for the engineering, construction, operation and maintenance of High Voltage Direct Current power transmission systems.
 
The program features a packed two days of senior executive engagement, deal-making opportunities, hands-on technology demonstrations, and a full-day site tour to experience actual HVDC use cases first-hand and help the transmission executives from China, India, ASEAN, and CAREC bring new power generation on-stream to service their growing economies.
 
The conference will also include presentations by recognized worldwide experts, executive case studies, and interactive discussion sessions along with an exclusive industrial exposition. The conference will focus on the latest state-of-the-art HVDC technology and lessons learned for building and operating HVDC energy highways successfully in the Asia-Pacific region as well as the Americas and EMEA.
 
SAVE $1200 or More When You Register as a Group
 
Enjoy $1200 or more in savings when you register as a group of 3 or more delegates!
 
International meetings are always much more productive when we bring along colleagues, clients and partners so we can discuss multiple projects and opportunities in a single location!
 
We encourage you to ask your colleagues, clients, and partners if they would like to join you as delegates to this visionary conference!
 
When you request the brochure and details to register here, ask about the group rates!
 
Exhibitor Floor Plan Now Available
 
If you would like to join the expo floor, you can register as an exhibitor for as low as $3,850 for a Tabletop Stand!
 
You can request the exhibitor floor plan here.
 
A Standard Booth includes:

• Illuminated exhibit stand
• An identification sign with the exhibitor’s name and booth number
• General exhibit hall security service
• Daily aisle cleaning service
• A descriptive listing on the executive conference website
• Access to the executive conference promotional programs
• Two complimentary full registrations for each booth

 
In addition, all sponsors and exhibitors receive the following General Inclusions:

• Company logo included on conference signage
• Acknowledgment of sponsors in Opening Address
• Company logo with link on Conference website
• Ad pages in Conference Program (1/2 page b/w per Exhibitor)
• Company name/logo displayed on conference signage in multiple locations
• Opportunity to purchase a full copy of the Delegate List with telephone and email contact info at discounted rates (DELEGATE LIST INCLUDED FREE OF CHARGE FOR GOLD, SILVER AND BRONZE SPONSORS)