From April 17 to 19, the Trade Development Bureau (TDB) of the Ministry of Commerce, in collaboration with the AmCham China US-China Energy Cooperation Program (ECP), orchestrated an international joint outreach program focused on energy transition and innovation cooperation in Sichuan Province.
The joint research delegation was led by Deng Bo, Deputy Director of the Trade Development Bureau (TDB). ECP, as the co-organizer, extended invitations to international corporate representatives from Honeywell, ConocoPhillips, Baker Hughes, Chevron, S&P Global, Thermo Fisher and Mitsubishi Corporation. Additionally, experts from various entities such as the US Commercial Service, US Embassy and Consulates in China, the US Department of Energy (China Office), Energy Digital Technology and Industry Committee of CERS, and Shanghai Ganglian Energy & Chemical Information Technology Co., Ltd., were also part of the collaborative effort.
The Sichuan outreach program was designed to delve into the realm of energy transition and explore avenues for innovative cooperation between industries and key local infrastructures. Engaging discussions took place with relevant local government departments, enterprises, and research institutions within Sichuan province. The research team also conducted on-site visits to various enterprises and projects, including Dongfang Electric Group, Sichuan Energy Investment Corporation, Albemarle Sichuan New Material Factory, Meishan California Smart City Project, and the Natural Gas Research Institute of PetroChina Southwest Oil and Gas Field Company.
On the afternoon of April 18, the delegation, accompanied by representatives from local enterprises, government representatives, MNCs, higher education institutions, and research organizations, totaling over 90 individuals, convened at the Meishan California Smart City (MCSC) facility for an international workshop on energy transition and innovation cooperation. Throughout the event, experts from prominent institutions including the US Department of Energy (China Office), PetroChina Southwest Research Institute, China Electricity Council’s Digital Energy Committee, and the Second Research Institute of CAAC (Civil Aviation Administration of China) delivered keynote speeches. These presentations covered the latest trends and significant areas of cooperation in energy transition in the energy sector. Additionally, they explored new opportunities and challenges associated with the energy transition process, offering valuable insights to local enterprises. International representatives from the research team also shared their respective areas of expertise, interests, and research findings, facilitating preliminary discussions and exchanges with local enterprises during the workshop.
The collaboration on energy transition and innovation in Sichuan marks the ECP’s second local provincial research outreach program in 2024. Participants in both the outreach program and the workshop exchanged and shared insights on the opportunities in Sichuan amid the current landscape of energy cooperation, as well as the policy and technological challenges inherent in the transition and innovation process. Key topics such as energy transition, low-carbon urban development, and the opportunities and challenges associated with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) were discussed during both the workshop session. This exchange of ideas laid a solid foundation for participating enterprises to gain further insights into the opportunities for energy transition in Sichuan and paved the way for potential international energy cooperation opportunities in China.
