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Core Cycle Energy |
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Facilitation of Sustainable Megacity Development through Energy Resource Efficiency
Xinjiang: a Region with Large Energy Resources
The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is very rich in fossil energy resources. From 1978 to 2007, the production of primary energy has increased by a factor of 6.6 and the consumption by a factor of 6.7. Only 24% of the oil and 14% of the natural gas is consumed directly in the province, with the majority being exported to other provinces. Xinjiang itself is increasingly relying on coal as primary energy carrier; in 2007, energy related per-capita emissions of CO2 amounted to 8 tonnes, which is close to the EU-27 average. The lion’s share of Xinjiang’s primary energy is consumed by the industrial sector, much of it for the extraction and processing of petroleum and natural gas.
 Consumption of Primary Energy in Xinjiang |
Primary Energy Consumption in Xinjiang by Sector |
Energy Balance of Urumqi
The 2007 energy balance of Urumqi shows that about 541 PJ of primary energy was consumed in the city, accounting for 28% of the Xinjiang total (1,927 PJ). Urumqi used 25% of Xinjiang’s coal, 50% of its oil, 12% of its natural gas, and 4% of its renewable energy, much of it in heavy industry. This results in high energy related per-capita CO2 emissions of 22 tonnes. In 2007, the city consumed 14.7 million tonnes of coal (approximately 51% of its primary energy supply) whereby 30% of the coal consumption was used for the heating of buildings. The lack of adequate air pollution control combined with low stack heights in the city center as well as inversions in the very cold winter results in heavy air pollution all of which have severe impacts on human health.
 Energy balance of Urumqi (2007)Source: Integrated Heating and Building Energy Efficiency Master Plan, Urumqi, 2010 |
Air pollution in Urumqi is highest in the heating season and exceeds safe levels |
China’s Energy Challenge The Chinese Academy of Sciences projects that within the next 40 years, China’s gross domestic product (GDP) will increase by 800% and energy consumption by 50% while CO2 emissions will peak around 2030 and later decrease owing to a larger share of renewable energy. In December 2009 China’s prime minister, Wen Jiabao promised at the Copenhagen Climate Summit that China was going to reduce the CO2 emission per unit GDP by 40% to 45% by the year 2020 compared to the 2005 level. Xinjiang, with abundant fossil fuel resources (coal, natural gas) as well as large areas to develop renewable energy (photovoltaic and solar thermal power plants as well as wind parks), faces challenges and opportunities in fulfilling the emission target. How can these ambitious goals be translated into practice? |
Gross domestic product (GDP), energy consumption and CO2 emissions in China |
An interim report provides an analysis of the current and future situation of China’s electric power industry.
The Projects of RECAST Urumqi, Task Group “Energy”
Together with our project partners the task group “Energy” identifies, promotes and implements projects for an effective use of energy resources in order to expand renewable energy use. Increasing the energy efficiency of buildings is a key element to bringing the blue skies back to Urumqi.
Elements for Sustainable City Planning A 108-page design handbook “Sustainable Elements for the Development of the Dryland Megacity Urumqi” focuses on the design of low energy buildings adapted to the cold winters and dry hot summers. They combine elements of traditional atrium buildings that could be adapted to year-round use of heated indoor spaces. This was demonstrated with prototype designs of different building sizes, usages and city regions (urban/suburban) to visualize how theoretical approaches (A/V ratio, passive cooling etc.) can be put into practice in an attractive way, balancing ecological, economic and social goals. |
Passive House Guidelines for Urumqi The Passive House Institute in Darmstadt developed Guidelines for Urumqi. The conclusion: It is possible to achieve the passive house standard [heating demand of 15 kWh/(m²*a)] in Urumqi. Many details though have yet to be resolved, e.g. high-efficient windows are not yet available on the Chinese market. |
 Click here to download the booklet |
Space heating demand modeled for a variety of buildings Click here to download the passive house guidelines |
Lighthouse Project 1: Renovation of an Existing Building to the Extra-low Energy Standard The renovation project of the Nanshan conference center was started in May 2010 and was planned jointly by the German team, the Construction Committee and Prof. Wang, of the University of Xinjiang. The focus of the RECAST team was on simple design features that utilized passive solar gains. The heat energy demand will be reduced by at least 75%. |
Lighthouse Project 2: Construction of a New Building with Extra-low Energy Standard Planned jointly with Dacheng Industries, the construction of a 5,000 m² mixed-use building with many passive house features, including heat recovery, will start in 2010 at Xingfu Road. The current design is for a total floor space of 8,200 m² (with an underground garage and supermarket). The expected heat energy demand is 18 kWh/(m²*a) for the office and apartment areas, which is close to the passive house standard. Gray water reuse and heat recovery are planned as well. Start of construction is expected for the fall of 2010. |
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Lighthouse Project 3: Energy and Mass-flow Analysis for ZhongTai Chemical Co. ZhongTai Chemical Co. in Urumqi is a fast growing producer of coal-based PVC along with other chemicals from the chlor-alkaline process. In 2009, about 400,000 tonnes of PVC were produced in Xishan (close to downtown Urumqi) and in a new plant in the Midong district. In addition a further factory in Fukang is in the planning stages. The combined production volume is expected to reach 2.6 million tonnes by the year 2015. Hence ZhongTai is a highly suitable case study to assess the suitability of an energy and mass flow analysis under Chinese conditions. The goal is to identify and quantify suitable options to increase energy, water and materials efficiency. |
Energy Conservation in Schools: Sino-German Initiatives A partnership was initiated between the Urumqi Middle School No. 8 and the Internationale Heidelberg Gesamtschule (IGH) focusing on the education of energy conservation education. Eight students ages 16 to 18 from Urumqi and their teacher visited Heidelberg in May 2009; the return visit will take place in September 2010. Training materials in Chinese were provided for the KlimaNet website, a virtual classroom, with educational material funded by the Ministry of Environment of the German State of Baden-Württemberg. The Construction Committee of the City of Urumqi began the process of selecting a new school construction project that could be built as a pilot passive house project. |
Joint development of a mass flow and energy model using Umberto® |
Urumqi Students lobby for climate protection with Heidelberg’s Lord Mayor Dr. Würzner (left); KlimaNet website with a virtual school tour on energy (right) |
Nanshan retrofit: existing building, projected design and ribbon-cutting
Xingfu low-energy building indoor atrium
Our Project Partners (with links)
- Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IFEU), Heidelberg)
- University of Heidelberg, Institute of Geography
- Institute for Eco-industrial Analyses (IUWA), Heidelberg
- Institute for Environmental Informatics, Hamburg
- City of Heidelberg, Environment Department
- Culturbridge Architects Grünstadt/Beijing
- Passive House Institute Darmstadt
- Xinjiang Environmental Protection Bureau (XEPB)
- Xinjiang Academy of Environmental Protection Sciences
- University of Xinjiang, Urumqi
- City of Urumqi Construction Committee
- Dacheng Industries
- ZhongTai Chemical Co.
- Xinjiang Architectural Design Institute
Documents and Publications 
For more information please contact
Dipl.-Biol. Bernd Franke
IFEU - Institute for Energy- and Environmental Research Heidelberg GmbH
Wilckensstraße 3
D-69120 Heidelberg
phone: +49 (0)6221 - 47 67 - 23
fax: +49 (0)6221 - 47 67 - 19
e-mail: bernd.franke@ifeu.de
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energie_en.htm - last change 10 feb 2012 - e-mail to the webmaster - printable version |
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