Members of China's Shenhua Group visit FE's National Energy Technology Laboratory. Photo courtesy of NETL.

Fossil Energy Protocol between the United States and China

The U.S.-China Fossil Energy Protocol is intended to promote scientific and technological cooperation between the United States and China in the field of fossil energy, particularly activities related to research, development, demonstration, and deployment. A complementary objective is to create opportunities for U.S. industry and power developers in China. The Protocol was originally signed in 2000 and was renewed in 2005 for an additional five years; signatories are the U.S. Department of Energy and China's Ministry of Science and Technology. A Permanent Coordinating Group governs the Protocol, chaired on the U.S. side by DOE's Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy and on the Chinese side by the Secretary General of the High Technology Bureau of MOST.

EIA Country Analysis Brief on China
Factsheet: U.S.-China Clean Energy Cooperation Announcements

The Protocol has six Annexes under which joint projects are conducted:

  • Annex I: Power Systems
  • Annex II: Clean Fuels
  • Annex III: Oil and Gas
  • Annex IV: Energy and Environmental Control Technologies
  • Annex V: Climate Science
  • Annex VI: Advanced Coal-Based Energy Systems Research, Development and Simulation

The most recent Protocol Review Meeting was held in San Francisco in August 2010. The Chinese delgation was led by MOST Vice Minister Du Zhanyuan. The meeting was the 10th anniversary celebration of the Protocol and featured two business-to-business dialogues with United States and Chinese energy-related industries, a stakeholder session, and a signing ceremony where four of the Protocol Annexes were extended for an additional five years and a new Annex was established for Advanced Coal-Based Energy Systems Research, Development and Simulation. 

Outreach and communications activities are underway to introduce Chinese corporations and research groups to the latest U.S. technologies in the areas of coal gasification, coal liquefaction, natural gas technology, coalbed methane recovery, acid rain control technologies, and carbon dioxide capture from power plants. 

Additionally, the Protocol addresses important ongoing cooperative climate science activites including analysis of historical climate data and improvement of global and regional general circulation climate models for parts of China.

US-China Clean Energy Research Center

In November 2009, President Barack Obama and President Hu Jintao announced the establishment of the $150 million U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC). The Protocol formally establishing the Center was signed at ceremonies in Beijing by U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang, and Chinese National Energy Agency Administrator Zhang Guobao.

The Center will facilitate joint research and development on clean energy by teams of scientists and engineers from the U.S. and China, as well as serve as a clearinghouse to help researchers in each country. Priority topics to be addressed will initially include building energy efficiency, clean coal including carbon capture and storage, and clean vehicles.

U.S.-China Energy & Environmental Technology Center (EETC)

DOE co-funds this activity with the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology. Objectives are to: (1) provide training and educational programs related to environmental policies, legislation, technology options and cost/financing of these options, (2) develop markets for U.S. clean coal technologies, and (3) help minimize the local, regional, and global environmental impact of China's energy use.    

Link to the EETC website

U.S.-China Oil and Gas Industry Forum

The U.S.-China Oil & Gas Industry Forum is a public-private partnership involving government and industry representatives from the United States and China. The Forum enables the two countries to meet common goals, including development of secure, reliable and economic sources of oil and natural gas while facilitating investment in the energy industry.

The 12th U.S.-China Oil & Gas Industry Forum was held in September 2012. High-level government officials from the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Commerce and China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC)/National Energy Administration (NEA), along with representatives from both U.S. and Chinese oil and gas industries attended the forum.