Coal, energy, the environment and development were the global topics hotly discussed on Tuesday at the second China (Taiyuan) International Coal & Energy New Industry Expo, which runs in Taiyuan until September 19.

    Forums included one on new industries, capitalization, and innovation and another on development of clean energy.

    Thirty-seven distinguished speakers, including central government ministers, provincial and municipal government officials, foreign government representatives, entrepreneurs, academics and financiers, addressed a total audience of 1,200 people.

    Officials, experts and scholars from home and abroad delivered lectures on the current status and prospects for renewable and clean energies, comprehensive development and utilization of coal mine gas resources worldwide, carbon dioxide storage technology and innovations in coal gasification.

    Lecturers also gave talks on capitalizing coal production, a market for coal trading, establishment of a China coal price index and futures market, existing coal and electricity price policies and practices, trends and reform of coal and electricity integration, price forecasting, coal enterprises' resources integration and mergers.

Left: A speaker at the clean energy summit. Right: Participants at the coal and

new energy roundtable yesterday in Taiyuan, Shanxi province.

    Lian Yimin, director of the Shanxi provincial science and technology department which is one of the organizers, said the organizers hope it will become a platform for integration, promotion and exchange of new technologies, new ideas and perspectives and a stage for cooperation and mutual development of forum participants.

    Xu Dingming

    Director of National Energy Advisory Committee

   "A low-carbon economy should be guaranteed through low-carbon energy supply and cleaner production.

    "Recycling is a very effective way to realize low-carbon economy, and sustainable development is the final direction of a low-carbon economy.

    "In the future, China should insist on comprehensive utilization of natural resources, ensure cleaner production, promote cyclic economy and further develop an ecologically aware society."

    Shi Dinghuan

    Chairman of the China Renewable Energy Society

   "Collaboration of industry, universities and research institutions plays an important strategic role in the reform and development of China, especially in the development of clean and renewable energies, as well as development and promotion of the advanced technologies and the establishment of a scientific and reasonable energy utilization system.

    "Clean energy should be the main direction of the energy development in the future."

    Xiao Yunhan

    Leader of experts group in the national "863" project, deputy director of the Hi-tech Bureau, Chinese Academy of Sciences

    "As the main development direction of clean coal technology in the future, integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) is the comprehensive utilization technology combining and integrating ultra-clean and high-efficient power generation technology of combined cycle - coal gasification and gas steam, with the conversion technology of vehicle fuel and chemicals in order to realize the energy conversion and substance transformation of coal.

    "IGCC can meet the requirements of efficiency, cost and environment simultaneously, and is compatible with the utilization of hydrogen energy and the long-term sustainable development target of CO2 mitigation."

    Robert S. Kripowicz

    Former assistant secretary for fossil energy, US Department of Energy

    "Coal mine methane (CMM) recovery and utilization activities are widespread and increasing rapidly.

    "There is a wide range of technologies applicable to CMM from power generation or upgrading of CMM to pipeline quality to uses such as heating or simply flaring.

    "Milestone Consulting, LLC, in conjunction with CMM Energy and the Energy and Environmental Technology Center of Tulane University has established a comprehensive partnership to develop CMM resources.

    "This concept is unique in providing an instrument bringing all the essential elements of a successful project under a single umbrella organization."

    Sun Wenbin

    General Manager of GreenGen Co Ltd"In recent years, frequent occurrences of extreme weather and the accelerated pace of global warming have drawn wide attention from national governments and the general public. As a result, the reduction of emissions from greenhouse gases like CO2 has become increasingly necessary and urgent.

    "Of all human activities, thermal power plants are the single largest source of CO2 emissions. The control of CO2 emissions from thermal power plants is the most effective means of reducing CO2 entering into the atmosphere.

    "With the rapid development of China's power industry and in light of the dominant role played by coal-fired generation both at present and in the future, the research and development of carbon capture and storage technology, as a strategic technology reserve, is of significant importance to the sustainable development of power industry in China."

   He Jiankun

    Former deputy-chancellor, Tsinghua University, and director of the State Low Carbon Energy Laboratory"The global response to climate change will create the change of worldwide economic and social development mode and technical innovation in energy.

    "To develop clean and low carbon energy technology and establish the growth of a low carbon economy, the primary path is to coordinate economic development and protect the global climate. It is crucial to realize the targets of long-term greenhouse gas mitigation and sustainable development of economy and society.

    "The development of energy technology in China is facing a severe challenge. The CO2 emission volume in China is huge and increasing rapidly.

    "In a certain period in the future, China will continue to be one of the largest source countries of CO2 emissions in the world.

    "China is facing the great pressure and challenge in the aspect of CO2 mitigation. It must accelerate the development of clean and low carbon energy technology, and strive for CO2 capture and storage technology over the next 10 to 15 years.

    "It should integrate nuclear power, wind power, biomass electricity generation, liquefaction and clean coal electricity generation together to form the extraordinary and large-scale industrialization and market mechanisms and to lay a solid foundation for CO2 mitigation in the future."

   Wang Huisheng

   President of the State Development and Investment Corporation (SDIC)"The cyclic economy concerns the whole society, enterprises and individuals.

    "The SDIC has put its investment focus on basic and resource industries in an effort to construct an industrial chain of coal to power the harbor and shipping."