Why Future Energy Leads the Way

The future of energy is here. This year’s government work report proposed cultivating and developing future industries such as future energy, quantum technology, embodied intelligence, brain-computer interfaces, and 6G. “Future energy” is not only included in the government work report for the first time but also ranks at the top among various cutting-edge sectors. Why does future energy take the lead? How important is it?

Many people ask, after so many years of development in new energy—solar, wind, electric vehicles—what exactly is future energy? Simply put, future energy is an upgraded, forward-looking, and disruptive version of new energy. It encompasses not only the familiar wind and solar power but also controlled nuclear fusion, green hydrogen, long-term new energy storage, next-generation renewable energy, and a full-chain system integrating energy with digital technology. Its core is to use disruptive technologies to break traditional energy limitations, creating a clean, safe, sustainable, and intelligent new energy ecosystem. It is the key engine supporting the new energy system and nurturing new productive forces.

Placing future energy at the top of future industries is no accident but a strategic choice based on the present and aimed at the long term. On one hand, it safeguards the bottom line of energy security. Energy is the food of industry and the lifeblood of the nation; without energy, development is impossible. Although China’s energy self-sufficiency rate is steadily increasing, the resource endowment of “rich in coal but lacking oil and gas,” along with the high external dependence on oil and gas, remains a concern for energy security. Ensuring a stable energy supply is essential for steady progress amid complex international circumstances. Developing future energy means reducing over-reliance, building an autonomous, controllable, and diversified supply system, and firmly holding the initiative in development.

On the other hand, it supports a green transformation. Achieving the “dual carbon” goals and promoting ecological civilization depend critically on energy. The environmental pressures caused by traditional high-carbon energy sources need to be addressed with zero-carbon and low-carbon future energy. Merely relying on existing technologies is insufficient for a green, low-carbon transition. For example, wind and solar power are unstable and have relatively low energy density. Future energy aims to solve the “energy security, economy, and green” triangle problem, becoming the ultimate engine for deep decarbonization and green transformation of development modes.

More importantly, it is about seizing a global competitive edge. Currently, the global energy landscape is shifting from resource-driven to technology-driven. Whoever makes the breakthrough in core future energy technologies first will dominate industry discourse and lay a solid foundation for other high-tech industries like artificial intelligence and data centers. China is already a leader in photovoltaic, wind power, and energy storage, but these energy forms still have shortcomings. For example, nuclear fusion offers high energy density, abundant raw materials, low radioactive pollution, and good safety. If controlled nuclear fusion can be practically applied, it could provide nearly unlimited clean energy for humanity. Therefore, investing in future energy is about transforming advantages into winning strengths, building world-class industrial clusters, cultivating new engines for economic growth, and leading global energy transformation with Chinese standards, Chinese technology, and Chinese equipment.

To develop future energy, we must identify the right paths and make precise efforts, laying a solid foundation step by step.

Focusing on technological breakthroughs as the core, tackling tough problems. Concentrate on key areas such as controlled nuclear fusion, advanced energy storage, green hydrogen production, and high-end energy materials, and push for breakthroughs in critical technologies. Support research institutions and leading enterprises to collaborate on innovation, create high-level innovation platforms, and continuously generate original and leading technologies to strengthen the technological foundation of the industry.

Supporting the entire chain development to strengthen the ecosystem. Follow the principle of establishing first and then breaking through, promote coordinated development of wind, solar, water, nuclear, hydrogen, and storage, accelerate the construction of large-scale clean energy bases, and improve supporting systems such as smart grids, energy storage facilities, and transportation networks. Integrate research, manufacturing, application, and service chains, cultivate specialized and innovative enterprises and industry leaders, and form an industrial ecosystem with upstream and downstream integration and collaboration among large, medium, and small enterprises.

Ensuring mechanism innovation to stimulate new vitality. Future energy technology R&D involves large investments, long cycles, and high risks. It is necessary to establish stable investment and risk-sharing mechanisms, make good use of industry funds, and encourage patient capital to make long-term deployments. Expand application scenarios, drive technological iteration through demand, improve standards and policies, and foster an environment where innovation is willing to invest, industries can implement, and markets can thrive—safeguarding the development of future energy.

From the discovery of fire to coal, and then to oil and gas, every leap in human civilization has been accompanied by energy revolutions. Whether future energy can give birth to the future remains to be seen. (Source: Economic Daily; Author: Wang Yichen)