[Conference Takeaway] 7th China International New Energy Conference 2022

SHANGHAI, Jul 22 (SMM) - The 7th China International New Energy Conference 2022, hosted by the SMM (Shanghai Metals Market), has come to a successful end last week. Over 2,000 industry experts and guests participated in the conference, and people provided their perspectives on a variety of topics regarding the most recent trends in the new energy industry, including new energy batteries and their materials, power battery recycling, new energy equipment, and technologies as well as international new energy industry chain.

Speech topic: Dual-Carbon Green Innovation Platform for the New Energy Vehicle Industry

Speaker: Yuan Chengyin, Director and General Manager of National New Energy Vehicle Technology Innovation Centre

Yuan shared with the participants about the dual-carbon (carbon peaking and neutrality) green innovation platform for the new energy vehicle industry. Based on the current situation of carbon emission in the whole life cycle of new energy vehicles and the requirements of China for the promotion of dual-carbon targets, Yuan analysed the challenges and opportunities in the industry and pointed out a new direction for the accounting and research of carbon footprint in the NEV industry.

Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan of China and the Long-term Goals in 2035: The NEV industry is a strategic emerging industry and a new pillar of the country's industrial system. The application of lightweight and advanced automotive materials will direct the development of the industry, but the weight reduction of materials does not directly lead to lightweight automobiles, and the carbon footprint of automotive materials is bound to be "lightweight".

Speech topic: The Latest Interpretation of the Dual-Carbon Policy based on the Development of New Energy Industry

Speaker: Han Wenke, Senior Consultant of Energy Research Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission and Research Fellow of China Macroeconomic Research Institute

Han made a professional interpretation of China's new energy industry development policies and the prospects under the dual-carbon target. He said that in recent years, as a big power, China has fully demonstrated its sincerity and responsibility for the global response to climate change, and released "Chinese energy" into the world. In order to reduce carbon emission intensity and realise carbon neutrality as soon as possible, improving energy utilisation efficiency and developing renewable energy are important paths. Besides, developing renewable energy is a common way to ensure ecology and resource security.

Phased Goal of the Dual-Carbon Policy - the Goal by 2025

In 2025, the economic system featuring green and low-carbon circular development may be basically formed, and the energy utilisation efficiency of key industries will greatly improve to lay a solid foundation for realising carbon peaking and carbon neutrality.

The energy consumption per unit of GDP will be 13.5% lower than that in 2020. Carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP will decrease by 18% compared with 2020. The proportion of non-fossil energy consumption may reach about 20%; The forest coverage rate will reach 24.1%, and the forest stock will be 18 billion cubic metres.

Speech topic: Innovation Drives Energy Transformation and Resources Support Industrial Development

Speaker: Jiang Li, Deputy General Manager and Secretary of the Board of Directors of CATL

Jiang predicted that by 2030, lithium and nickel consumed by batteries will grow to 6-9 times that of today, and cobalt for batteries will be 1.5-2.2 times.

Speech topic: Globalisation of Electric Vehicles

Speaker: Jin Guoqing, Chief Supply Officer of Chongqing Changan New Energy Vehicles Technology Co., Ltd.

Jin said that new energy vehicles are the main path to achieve the "dual-carbon" goal. In the first quarter of 2022, the share of Chinese new energy passenger car brands reached 83%. In the future, because the problems of battery life, safety and high prices still exist, the breakthrough in battery technology is still of utmost concern.

Speech topic: Development of New Energy Vehicles in China

Speaker: Shi Jianhua, Deputy Secretary General of China Association of Automobile Manufacturers  

Current situation of automobile industry development: The automobile industry plays a vital role. The China automobile market is the largest market in the world. The automobile competition is globalised. The development of NEV is accelerating.

Development of automobiles in the future: The automobile industry will keep transforming and upgrading, and will enter a stage of high-quality development completely.

The automobile industry is transformed and upgraded, and the industry maintains a steady development.

Shi said that in 2021, the global output of power batteries reached 219.7GWh, a year-on-year increase of 163.4%. By 2021, the cumulative number of global charging infrastructures was 2.617 million units, up 70.1% year-on-year, and 1,298 battery swap stations were established. The total global automobile sales will reach about 27 million units in 2022, with a year-on-year increase of 3%.