Building the foundations for the EU-CHINA BRIDGE: First General Assembly in Weihai
The first in-person General Assembly of the project took place on 28-29 October 2024 at Shandong University, Weihai, China. The event was attended by over 20 project delegates from the EU and China who had the chance to meet in person for the first time. The first session opened with a warm welcome from the meeting organiser, Prof. Xu Zhao (Shandong University) and continued with introductory remarks and project updates from Prof. Da Yan (Tsingua University) and Dr. Chun Xia (Wuppertal Institute), representing the progress from China and the EU respectively. Advisory board members provided feedback, followed by discussions on stakeholder engagement and communication strategies. Presentations by Dr Dagmar Kiyar (Wuppertal Institute), Dr Alexandros Nikas (ICCS), and Dr George Xexakis (HOLISTIC) emphasised the importance of stakeholder co-creation, open and FAIR science principles, and effective dissemination of research outcomes.
Thematic Session 1: Upscaling Paths of Key Technologies and Decarbonization of Chemical and Steel Industries
The first session explored innovative approaches to addressing industrial emissions. Mr. Ole Zelt (Wuppertal Institute) discussed technology inventories and upscaling paths, with a particular focus on green hydrogen initiatives, including the "liquid sunshine" project presented by Prof. Xueqiang Zhang (Beijing Institute of Technology). Dr Hao Zhou (Tsinghua Universit) and Felix Pag (University of Kassel) highlighted industrial waste heat utilisation opportunities, including analysing heat potentials in Thyssen Krupp group's cooling towers. Dr Clemens Schneider (University of Kassel) presented detailed roadmaps for decarbonising chemical and steel industries using the EDM-Global Steel and EDM-i models, incorporating technical readiness levels and site-level analyses. Dr. Schneider also referred to HVC production and methanol chemistry, which presented interest to both the EU and Chinese sides.
Prof. Hui Kong (Beijing Institute of Technology) shared preliminary roadmaps for chemical and steel industries from the Chinese side, integrating innovative technologies like the MIDREX process into industrial operations. Dr Chun Xia-Bauer and Dr Lukas Hermwille presented strategies for decarbonisation through multi-level policy frameworks and highlighted key governance challenges, such as managing excess steel production capacity in China and the need for targeted plant retirements to adopt new technologies. They also discussed the difficulty of investment decisions in transitioning to low-carbon technologies and the limited impact of hydrogen emissions reductions on overall CO2 emissions.
Thematic session 2: Building GHG Short-Lived Pollutant Emission Inventories and Datasets
The second thematic session took place on the morning of October 29 at Shandong University. Prof. Zhu Liu presented advances in near real-time global GHG emission datasets, using innovative approaches like satellite remote sensing, geographic information, and web data crawlers. These datasets are then publicly shared through the online Carbon Monitor tool, capturing dynamic and seasonal changes in emissions and providing granular insights into daily CO2 outputs and responses to extreme events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Prof. Liu also stressed the added value of real-time data for understanding emissions trends, compared to traditional models like EDGAR which smooth seasonal variations.
At the second part of the session, Prof. Yuli Shan (University of Birmingham) highlighted the challenges of inventorying emissions for emerging economies, focusing on methane, which accounted for around 18% of global emissions in 2010 and 2019 and is a significant contributor to global warming. Subsequently, Mr. Jianchang Li (University of Birmingham) discussed methodologies for capturing methane emissions from the energy, steel, and waste sectors, focusing on emerging economies. Prof. Shan then highlighted potential discrepancies in coal mine emission reporting, where pre-mining processes are often overlooked, and emphasised the need for more accurate emission factors. The session concluded with a discussion on future work plans and methodologies for enhancing the reliability and scope of emission inventories globally.
Thematic Session 3: Integrated Model Development and Net-Zero Emissions Pathways
In the third thematic session, Dr Nicklas Forsell, Dr Lena Höglund, and Ms Vicky Jia (IIASA) shortly introduced the GLOBIOM and GAINS models and presented recent modelling enhancements such as better representation for biochar, improved drivers for waste generation, and updates of sub-sector representation in both models. Dr. Panagiotis Fragkos (E3M) presented on policy scenario design with the PRIMES, PROMETHEUS, and GEM-E3 models, highlighting the extensive low-carbon fuel representation and improved calibration of the models using recent data. Dr. Fragkos also emphasised the use of the models to assess carbon-intensive industries, circular economy pathways, and the role of emerging technologies. These tools will also be used to explore transformational scenarios and their implications for the transition of the EU and China towards net zero.
Prof. Xu Zhao (Shandong University) highlighted the progress in integrated modelling by the Chinese team, including advancements in the GTAP-based Energy-Economy MRIO model and the Emerging-WSG coupled model, which links water sustainability and global hydrological trends. Notable developments in the MRIO model included disaggregated mining sector analysis for 38 critical materials, sub-national modelling, and assessments of GHG reduction potentials under various scenarios. The session concluded with a discussion on expanding integrated models to address global supply chain dynamics, agricultural impacts, and synergies between technology and policy for achieving sustainable transitions.
Note: Α detailed description of the meeting in Chinese can be found in a Weixin post.
