Some of you might remember a blog I wrote last spring introducing an exciting new tool by the  Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the 2050 Calculator. At the time, this interactive tool was only available to model the UK, so I am happy to find out that it is now also available based on data for China!

Since the original UK data tool was based on a very flexible structure that can be modified to take into account structural differences between the UK and other economies it was only a matter of time to see this extension. The tool is now available for the UK, China, Belgium and South Korea.

China’s Energy Research Institute (ERI) has been working with its British counterparts to adapt the UK Government’s ‘2050 Calculator’ to their own economy. The online tool, which is now available to the public, exposes the risks and trade-offs associated with different future energy scenarios in a fun and innovative way.

The new tool for China allows the user to model energy demand, primary energy supply as well as greenhouse gas emissionsGreenhouse gas emissions cause dangerous anthropogenic climate change. Emissions include CO2, fluoridated gases, methane which are emitted by human activity such as deforestation and burning fossil fuels, and water vapour..

Energy demand can be adjusted by changing several determining factors, such as the heavy industry output growth or the rate of energy consumption decline. Primary energy supply can be calculated to consist of increasing clean energy solutions such as renewablesRenewable energy is power generated from infinite sources, such as wind or solar power. Conventional energy is generated from finite sources, such as natural gas or fossil oil. or by introducing better efficiencyUsing less energy/electricity to perform the same function. Programs designed to use electricity more efficiently - doing the same with less. measures. Greenhouse gasGreenhouse gas emissions cause dangerous anthropogenic climate change. Emissions include CO2, fluoridated gases, methane which are emitted by human activity such as deforestation and burning fossil fuels, and water vapour. emissionsEmissions of greenhouse gases, greenhouse gas precursors, and aerosols associated with human activities, including the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, land-use changes, livestock, fertilisation, etc. (IPCC) can be influenced by sequestration or policies like carbon creditsCarbon credits provide a way to reduce greenhouse effect emissions on an industrial scale by capping total annual emissions and letting the market assign a monetary value to any shortfall through trading.. Then one can check the implications of this new energy system. It’s  fun  trying to balance everything out!

“The 2050 Calculator is a ground-breaking tool to help countries better plans their future energy strategy, in a transparent and evidence-based way. We welcome the work of our Chinese colleagues,” says DECC Secretary of State, Ed Davey.

DECC has also  successfully bid for up to £2.1m of funding from the UK’s International Climate Fund to support work on a 2050 Calculator in 10 more developing countries over the next two years.