event

AUSTRALIA-PRC ENERGY TRADE AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION AND THE ENERGY TRANSITION

Australia and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) have complementary economic structures with clear opportunities for mutually beneficial trade. In 2019, coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG) accounted for 25 percent of Australia’s goods exports to the PRC, behind only iron ore in terms of value. Now, however, bilateral energy commodity trade is facing two significant challenges. First, in 2020 geopolitical tensions spilled over to bring an end to Australian coal exports. The PRC has also stepped up efforts to diversify LNG imports away from Australia. This has included striking multiple long-term supply deals with US companies, despite strategic rivalry between Beijing and Washington becoming increasingly fractious. Second, Beijing is transitioning from fossil fuels to a low carbon energy system. This energy transition, which is critical to achieving Beijing’s ambitious plan of achieving a carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, will significantly impact Australia’s coal and LNG exports in the long run. Australia’s own more ambitious emission reduction targets and climate goals may also affect its industries and exports. These factors are also creating challenges for research and technology cooperation in the energy area.

This raises a number of questions: How will the PRC’s domestic climate change and energy policies affect Australia? What are the opportunities and challenges for energy trade and technology cooperation between Australia and the PRC? What impact are political tensions in the bilateral relationship having upon energy trade and technology cooperation?

The Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS:ACRI), in partnership with the International Society for Energy Transition Studies (ISETS), hosted a webinar with 10-minute presentations by Dr Xiujian Peng, Senior Research Fellow, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University; Dr Jorrit Gosens, Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University; and Mr Anthony Coles, Chair, Net Zero Working Group, Australia China Business Council (ACBC) in a session chaired by Professor Xunpeng Shi, UTS:ACRI Research Principal, to discuss these questions and more. The presentations were followed by audience Q&A. 

Time: 12.30pm - 1.30pm AEST

 

A transcript of the discussion is available.

 

About the speakers

Dr Xiujian Peng

Xiujian Peng is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre of Policy Studies (CoPS) at Victoria University. She has extensive experience in the development and application of large-scale computable general equilibrium (CGE) models. She has been involved in the development of CHINAGEM - the widely used CGE model of the Chinese Economy. She has led and completed many research projects which cover various economic issues in China. As a principal researcher, she has provided consulting services to governments, research institutions, and universities in many countries such as the United States, China, Australia, South Korea and Thailand.

Dr Jorrit Gosens

Jorrit Gosens is a Fellow at the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University (ANU). He has over a decade of experience researching Chinese energy policy and Chinese renewable energy industry formation. At the ANU, he has developed the most geographically detailed model of China’s coal sector. Jorrit directs the Strategic Research Spoke ‘Energy Transitions’ at the Australian Centre on China in the World, and is creator and editor of China Energy Portal, a website that provides translations of Chinese energy policy and statistics.

Anthony Coles

Anthony Coles is a National Board Member with the Australia China Business Council and Chair of their Net Zero Working Group. With 15 years’ experience working in renewable energy, originally as CEO with ASX-listed solar power and water company, Solco Ltd, and more recently assisting the commercialisation of CleanTech companies into Asia through TusStar H Lab Australia, Anthony is leading ACBC’s new multi-year Green Channel program, highlighting opportunities for collaboration between Australia and the PRC on solutions addressing the climate challenge. Net Zero faster, together.

 

About the co-host

The International Society for Energy Transition Studies

The ISETS is a worldwide non-profit professional organisation based in Australia, which has members in over 40 nations and many international organisations. ISETS aims to facilitate an equitable and inclusive transition of energy and relevant sectors toward a sustainable low-carbon future with consideration of economic development, social equity, and environmental stewardship through international partnerships.

---

Audio