The future energy has arrived. This year's government work report proposes to cultivate and develop future industries such as energy, quantum technology, embodied intelligence, brain computer interfaces, and 6G. The concept of 'future energy' has not only been included in the government work report for the first time, but also ranks first among many cutting-edge tracks. How can future energy take the lead? How important is it really?
Many people may ask, after so many years of development in new energy, with photovoltaics, wind power, and electric vehicles everywhere, what is the future energy? Simply put, future energy is an upgraded, forward-looking, and disruptive version of new energy. It is not only familiar with wind and solar power generation, but also includes a full chain system of controllable nuclear fusion, green hydrogen energy, long-term new energy storage, next-generation renewable energy, and deep integration of energy and digital technology. Its core is to use disruptive technologies to break through the limitations of traditional energy and create a clean, safe, sustainable, and intelligent new energy ecosystem. It is the core engine that supports the new energy system and nurtures new quality productivity.
Placing future energy at the forefront of future industries is not accidental, but a strategic decision based on the present and with a long-term perspective. On the one hand, we must uphold the bottom line of energy security. Energy is the food of industry and the lifeline of a country. Without energy, there can be no development. Although China's energy self-sufficiency rate has steadily increased, the resource endowment of "rich coal but lacking oil and gas" and the high dependence on oil and gas exports have always been hidden concerns for energy security. Only by stabilizing the energy bowl can we achieve stability and long-term success in the complex international landscape. Developing future energy means getting rid of excessive dependence, building an independent, controllable, and resilient supply system, and firmly grasping the initiative of development in our own hands.
On the other hand, take the path of green transformation well. The key to achieving the "dual carbon" goal and promoting ecological civilization construction lies in energy. The environmental pressure caused by traditional high carbon energy needs to be solved by zero carbon and low-carbon future energy. To achieve the goal of green and low-carbon transformation, relying solely on existing technologies is far from enough. For example, wind and solar power generation is not stable and the energy density is not high enough. Future energy can become the ultimate engine for achieving deep decarbonization and promoting green transformation of development mode by breaking the impossible triangle of energy "security, economy, and green".
More importantly, seize the high ground of global competition. Currently, the global energy landscape is shifting from resource dominance to technology dominance. Whoever breaks through the core technology of future energy first will have the right to speak in the industry and build a solid foundation for the development of other high-tech industries such as artificial intelligence and data centers. China has already taken the lead in the fields of photovoltaics, wind power, energy storage, etc., but these forms of energy still have many shortcomings. Taking nuclear fusion as an example, it has advantages such as high energy density, abundant raw material resources, low radioactive pollution, and good safety. If controllable nuclear fusion can be maturely applied, it can provide almost unlimited clean energy for humanity. Therefore, to promote future energy, we need to turn our advantages into victories, build world-class industrial clusters, cultivate new engines of economic growth, and let Chinese standards, technologies, and equipment lead the global energy transformation.
To cultivate and develop future energy, we need to find the right path, make precise efforts, and solidify the foundation step by step.
Taking technological breakthroughs as the core and tackling tough problems. Focus on key areas such as controllable nuclear fusion, advanced energy storage, green hydrogen production, and high-end energy materials, and concentrate efforts on breakthroughs in key technologies. Supporting collaborative innovation between research institutes and leading enterprises, creating a high-level innovation platform, allowing original and leading technologies to constantly emerge, and laying a solid technological foundation for industrial development.
Supported by full chain cultivation, strengthen the ecosystem. Adhere to the principle of establishing before breaking, promote the diversified and coordinated development of wind, solar, water, nuclear, and hydrogen storage, accelerate the construction of large-scale clean energy bases, and improve supporting systems such as smart grids, energy storage facilities, and transportation pipelines. Connect the entire chain of research and development, manufacturing, application, and service, cultivate a group of specialized, refined, innovative, and leading enterprises, and form an industrial ecosystem that connects upstream and downstream, and promotes collaboration among large, medium, and small enterprises.
With mechanism innovation as the guarantee, stimulate new vitality. Future energy technology research and development requires large investment, long cycles, and high risks. It is necessary to establish a stable investment mechanism and risk sharing mechanism, make good use of industry funds, and encourage patient capital to layout in the long term. Open up more application scenarios, drive technological iteration with demand, improve standard and policy systems, encourage innovation to invest, enable industries to land, and invigorate the market, providing strong support for future energy development.
From drilling wood to make fire, to discovering coal, to embracing oil and gas, every leap forward in human civilization has been accompanied by energy innovation. Whether future energy can nurture the future remains to be seen. (New Society)