The transition to a low carbon energy system will require a step change in the pace and scale of technology development and deployment of new energy technologies. China and Denmark will benefit from greater knowledge sharing and RD&D cooperation to accelerate technology advancement along the curve from idea to market. Therefore, Sustainable Energy has been identified as a key topic for the SDC cooperation. So far four sub themes have been selected - Fusion, Bioenergy, Solar Energy and Wind Energy.

Wind Energy

Wind energy plays a major role in the future energy systems in China and Denmark. As such, wind energy is a natural area for Sino-Danish research cooperation. Two potential research areas are identified:

1. Wind power integration and hybrid system modelling
2. Simulation platform for analysis of grid fault situations and new designs

Fusion

Magnetically confined fusion is a long standing project and with the desicion to build ITER as world wide experiment, the fusion community will demonstrate by 2025 the possibility to produce net energy in a fusion devise. The SDC opens up the possibility to bring together the Danish expertise in theory and turbulence modelling to the Chinese experimental devices in a mutual beneficial collaboration.

1. Validating theory and numerics by performing dedicated experiments and developing fitting diagnostics in and for EAST
2. Improving predictive understanding of the dynamics and transport of bulk plasma as well as fast particles.

Foreseen activities: Research mobility schemes, Ph.D. summer school and development of regular Master courses.

Bio Energy

Biomass is transportable, storable and directly useable for the transportation sector in contrast to other energy carriers like electricity. The research collaboration will be established based on existing projects within:

1. Cellulosic biomass as feedstock for bio fuels
2. Algae as feedstock for biodiesel

Ph.D. training and a Master programme are under consideration.

Bio Energy: Thermal

Thermal and catalytic conversion of biomass and waste is a very important area in sustainable energy, which attracts much attention in both China and Denmark. In the Medium and Long-Term Development Plan for Renewable Energy in China, the thermal conversion processes play an important role in bio-energy sector. Denmark plays a leading role in the biomass and waste to power technology in the world. The aim of the present sub-theme is to enhance the collaboration between the two countries in this area. The research and education will be focused on:  

1. Characterization of feedstock (biomass and waste)
2. Pretreatment of feedstock
3. Feedstock to power and clean fuels (thermal and catalytic processes
4. Hydrothermal and catalytic upgrading
5. Catalytic synthesis of transportation fuels from biomass and waste
6. Emission control processes

Solar Energy

While solar energy is a broad and strong research focus for Chinese research institutions, Danish research interests are focused on limited research areas. This has converged into the following research areas (and a potential fourth area):

1. Solar Thermal Heating: Medium and high temperature solar air collectors
2. Photovoltaics: Nanostructure in organic photovoltaics and nano-structured hybrid inorganic / organic solar cell
3. Photovoltaics: Development of improved nano-particles for dye sensitized solar cells
4. Nanocrystalline Silicon PV

Energy Systems and Policy

The introduction of high shares of fluctuating renewable power production such as wind power and photovoltaics influence the design and operation of the energy systems in both Denmark and China. Procedures, methods, market designs and practices related to the planning, operation and monitoring of the electricity systems need to be developed in order to handle the cost characteristics, variability and partial predictability of the renewable energy sources. The future transformation of the energy systems into being more reliant on renewable energy requires cost effective energy policy measures. Ensuring economic growth and increased employment related to development of the green economy require adequate policy measures and instruments with the right timing. Hence research cooperation and sharing of experiences regarding development of tools and methods related to energy policy instruments and energy system modeling are extremely important.

1. Development and adaptation of energy modeling to the Chinese context
2. Renewable energy transition policies, decision-making and management
3. Transnational energy technology transfer