Source: People's Daily
Zhang Xiliang (second from left) and students watch the model calculate the results.
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Zhang Xiliang recently took a photo.
Photographed by He Yuche, a reporter of this newspaper
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On August 23, the 2021 National Energy Conservation Publicity Week with the theme of "Energy Conservation, Carbon Reduction, And Green Development" was launched. Not long ago, the national carbon emissions trading market officially launched online trading. As the world's largest carbon market, from groping for research, planning and design, to pilot exploration, and official launch, what problems need to be overcome? What kind of breakthroughs and innovations have been achieved?
From now on, the Ecological Edition has launched a series of reports on "Children of Nature helping to achieve the double carbon goal", approaching scientists who are working hard to achieve carbon peaks and carbon neutrality goals, and listening to their unknown bits and pieces in the process of helping to achieve the double carbon goal and promote green development.
After the rain, the Tsinghua campus is particularly quiet, and when you go to a uniquely designed royal blue building, you can see the building surrounded by blue waves, and the solar photovoltaic panels on the outer wall are dotted with green plants - this characteristic energy-saving building is the location of the School of the Environment of Tsinghua University, and the office of Zhang Xiliang, the head of the national carbon emissions trading system overall design technical expert group and the director of the Institute of Energy, Environment and Economics of Tsinghua University.
Handling daily work, recording a video of a speech for an international academic conference... Although it is the summer vacation, Zhang Xiliang is still busy.
Pioneering——
"There is no shortcut, only through a lot of research, little by little to improve the plan"
On July 16, the national carbon emission trading market officially launched online trading. It is also for this reason that these days, Zhang Xiliang is particularly busy.
In 2013, he was entrusted by the Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission to lead the team to undertake the research task of the key system of the beijing carbon emission trading pilot, and in 2015, he became the head of the technical expert group on the overall design of the national carbon emission trading system...... In Zhang Xiliang's office, a whiteboard with dense formulas written on it, a thick stack of certificates, proofs of achievement adoption, etc., all record his and the carbon market over the years.
In 2013, the research on China's carbon emissions trading market was still in its infancy, in the words of Zhang Xiliang, "everything is 'groping'".
"There are more than 40 enterprises running before and after, from understanding the mainstream products, carbon emissions, emission reduction potential of each enterprise, to communicating with the heads of enterprises the standards and methods of quota allocation..." In order to obtain accurate information and make a quota allocation plan recognized by relevant government departments and enterprises, Zhang Xiliang's team investigated one enterprise at a time, and deliberated on one plan after another.
"It was very difficult at first, and many people didn't have a concept of the carbon market." Zhang Xiliang recalled, "This is a process from scratch, but it is also a critical period to lay the foundation. There is no shortcut, only through a lot of research, little by little to improve the program. Slowly, our program design was gradually applied in the construction of the pilot carbon market in Beijing, and later we undertook the overall design task of the national carbon market. ”
Among them, what makes Zhang Xiliang most proud is the team's innovative exploration of carbon market design theory. "Carbon market theory originated abroad, and an effective carbon market has not been built in developing countries before. To build China's carbon market, it is necessary to integrate it with China's actual situation. Zhang Xiliang explained, "In this way, while minimizing the impact on the production costs of enterprises, it can also play a role in promoting the transformation and upgrading of China's economy." Zhang Xiliang's team's research results in the key elements of the carbon market and the design of the core framework have been adopted by the overall design of the national carbon emission trading market, and the team has won the first prize of the 8th Colleges and Universities Scientific Research Outstanding Achievement Award.
Engaging in such pioneering work is not the first time for Zhang Xiliang. In 2004, Zhang Xiliang participated in the drafting of China's renewable energy law as one of the main responsible persons of the expert proposal drafting expert group. He told reporters that from combing the literature to inference discussion, from grassroots research to studying abroad, in order to complete the expert proposal draft of the Renewable Energy Law (draft), the team spent two years. "Being able to participate in national legislation as a member of the expert group has made me deeply appreciate the importance that the country attaches to energy transformation, and has strengthened my confidence and determination to continue to explore on this road." Zhang Xiliang said.
Collaboration——
"More wisdom and wider cooperation can achieve more results and benefit more people"
In addition to books, the most placed in Zhang Xiliang's bookcase is photos.
"These are my students. This used to be a student of thermal energy, this undergraduate is a student of financial management, and when we participated in the drafting of the renewable energy law before, we also recruited postdoctoral fellows majoring in law..." Speaking of students, Zhang Xiliang was full of pride. Carbon reduction involves a wide range of things – companies in all walks of life, different technologies, complex financial knowledge, legal knowledge, etc. Therefore, in Zhang Xiliang's view, carbon emission reduction research, teamwork is the most important thing.
In fact, Zhang Xiliang's students not only come from different majors, but also have a wide range of directions after graduation - some enter relevant government departments, some enter enterprises, and some start their own businesses. "No matter what job I'm in, my students always pay extra attention to 'low carbon' and 'green.'" Zhang Xiliang said, "Carbon reduction is far from something that can be done by one person or one team. After graduation, these children can contribute to carbon emission reduction in their respective positions, which in turn will affect more people to participate, which is very good. ”
From one person, one team, to more people, more places... Over the years, Zhang Xiliang has led the team to carry out cooperative research with other universities, go abroad to learn and exchange advanced experience, and participate in international cooperation projects. "Low-carbon energy technology from invention, innovation, to large-scale commercial use, all require international cooperation, more wisdom, more cooperation, in order to achieve more results and benefit more people." He said.
Transformation——
"Where there is a need, our research is there"
The Institute of Nuclear energy and New Energy Technology of Tsinghua University is the place where Zhang Xiliang studied and worked for more than 20 years. In 1993, Zhang Xiliang came here to study for a doctorate under Professor Qiu Daxiong and Professor Gu Shuhua. "Here, what I admire the most, and who has the greatest influence on me, are these old gentlemen in the academy. They all have a sense of family and country, willing to dedicate themselves to the country, and hope to do something for the development of the country, but they never care about personal honor. It is this spirit that has always inspired me and guided me. Zhang Xiliang said.
"Can do something for the needs of the country" - this is the direction that Zhang Xiliang has been working towards for more than 20 years. "When I went to college, our country as a whole was in a state of relative energy shortage, especially in rural areas." Zhang Xiliang recalled, so he chose to engage in rural energy research.
In 2004, due to his participation in the drafting of the Renewable Energy Law, renewable energy became one of Zhang Xiliang's main research areas. Later, with the further deepening of research, Zhang Xiliang began to pay more attention to the topic of national energy transformation. From the carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP proposed in 2009 to 2020 to reduce by 40%-45% compared with 2005, to the 60%-65% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP proposed in 2015 compared with 2005, to the carbon peak, carbon neutrality target, and the online operation of the national carbon emissions trading market, Zhang Xiliang's team has participated in the research and demonstration, "It can be said that in these years, many major events in the country in energy have caught up. This makes us feel a sense of mission even more. ”
"The most important thing for a researcher is to have feelings and responsibility. Where there is a need, our research is there. Zhang Xiliang said, "Our team is not big, but we also have our own feelings - that is, to strive to provide research solutions for national climate governance and contribute To global climate governance." ”
Expert profiles
Zhang Xiliang, born in 1963, is a professor at the Institute of Nuclear energy and New Energy Technology of Tsinghua University. He is currently the director of the Institute of Energy, Environment and Economics of Tsinghua University, and the leader of the "Energy Management and Climate Policy" team of Tsinghua University's key research team.
He is committed to the research of energy low-carbon transformation and climate change policy, and is one of the main leaders of the expert drafting expert proposal of the Renewable Energy Law (Draft), and the head of the technical expert group on the overall design of the national emissions trading system. In 2020, the research results of the overall plan of the national carbon emission trading market won the first prize of the 8th Outstanding Achievement Award for Scientific Research in Colleges and Universities. In 2021, he was awarded the title of "National Ecological And Environmental Protection Professional and Technical Leading Talent" by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.