The challenge of natural gas development in China under the constraint of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality

In contrast, China's natural gas market is still in the stage of non-competitive market, the development of late start, limited resources and reserves, geological and development conditions are complex, market vitality and competition is insufficient, and the legal and regulatory system is still to be improved. Therefore, under the constraint of carbon peak and carbon neutrality, natural gas should be given full play as the "ballast stone" of energy security and the "stabilizer" of power security, seize the opportunity of "stabilizing oil and gas and developing new energy", deepen and accelerate the pace of reform of the natural gas industry, rationally layout the natural gas industry, and enhance the reliability and flexibility of supply.

China's natural gas development suggestions

China's natural gas industry must not only meet the incremental demand for clean energy in economic and social development, but also promote the replacement of traditional high-carbon fossil energy stocks, but also build a new pattern of integrated development with new energy in a timely manner. According to the domestic and foreign natural gas supply and demand situation, the comparative advantage of natural gas in key areas, and the role of natural gas in the process of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, considering multiple factors such as resources, environment, economy and safety, it is expected that China's natural gas demand can double to reach its peak (more than 6×1011 m3) in 2040. Domestic natural gas production will exceed 3×1011 m3, and it can rely on domestic independent production and overseas resources in the four strategic channels of northeast, northwest, southwest and sea to ensure adequate supply.

Natural gas has the characteristics of network continuous supply, the future development needs to clarify the top-level design, and continue to promote the coordinated development of "production, supply, storage and marketing". Joint promotion from the four aspects of expanding consumption scale, ensuring adequate supply, strengthening infrastructure, and improving the system and mechanism, effectively play the role of natural gas as a transitional energy "bridge", and provide basic guarantee for the construction of a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient new energy system, and realize China's carbon peak and carbon neutrality.

(1) Strengthen top-level overall guidance, and clarify the positioning and thinking of natural gas development

It is suggested that in the carbon peaking and carbon neutral roadmap formulated by the state, the role and positioning of natural gas as the main energy and carbon neutral "bridge" of carbon peaking should be clarified. In accordance with the overall ideas of strengthening the domestic supply base, expanding multiple sources of gas supply, encouraging the development of gas and electricity peaking and natural gas vehicles, vigorously developing gas storage and pipeline infrastructure, and coordinating and improving fiscal and tax price support policies, we will give full play to the comparative advantages of natural gas, accelerate the development of the natural gas industry, and contribute to the realization of carbon peak before 2030. It will win time and space for the maturity of key new energy technologies and the growth of emerging industries, and provide the most favorable support for the ultimate realization of carbon neutrality by 2060.

(2) Give full play to comparative advantages and promote the leapfrog development of natural gas consumption

There are significant differences in the comparative advantages of natural gas in different fields of energy consumption, and there is practical demand for the leapfrog development of natural gas. Give full play to the green and low-carbon advantages of natural gas, practice the concept of green development, and continue to promote the "coal to gas" project in urban gas and industrial fields based on the prevention and control of air pollution, and help the sustainable development of urban and regional environment; Give full play to the green, low-carbon and price advantages of natural gas, focusing on long-distance freight transportation and urban transportation in cold areas, actively layout LNG and CNG filling stations, accelerate the pace of "oil to gas", and promote rapid carbon reduction in the transportation sector; Give full play to the low-carbon and flexible advantages of natural gas, focus on renewable energy production bases and power demand load centers, accelerate the planning and layout of peaking gas and electricity, and help the large-scale development of renewable energy and the safety of power grid transmission and distribution; We will give full play to the advantages of natural gas in low carbon and high efficiency, build cogeneration gas power plants according to local conditions, and promote efficient energy use in the region.

(3) Rational use of both domestic and international resources to ensure adequate and reliable supply of natural gas