Li Bin, associate researcher, Institute of Economics, Henan Academy of Social Sciences
Bottleneck problems havebecome increasingly noticeable in the process of rural energy transformation, restricting therural revitalization. First, the top-level design of rural energy transformation is not sound. Second, there is a mismatch between costs and benefits in rural energy transformation. Third, the statistical mechanism of rural energy transformation is unreasonable. Fourth, the rural energy transformation service system is inadequate. In view of the above problems, we need to make clear keypointsof the solution in the process of green transformation of rural energyso as to boostrural revitalization and agricultural & rural modernization.
By means of exploringa new model of energy development, efforts should be made to solve the mismatch between costs and benefits of energy transformation. On the one hand, on the premise of "people's livelihood first and economic feasibility", appropriate financial subsidies will be given to solve the unbalanced and inadequate development of clean energy in rural areas and eliminate the relative poverty of rural energyin the initial stage of energy transformation, with the goal of "affordable" green energy for rural residents. On the other hand, we will vigorously construct systems for distributed wind power generation, distributed photovoltaic power generation and distributed wind-solar hybrid generation, innovate in and develop a variety of forms such as "photovoltaics + planting","photovoltaics + farming" and "photovoltaics + cottages", give play to the market mechanism, explore the mode of "village + company + peasant household", and reduce the energy consumption cost of rural residents. We will push ahead withan effective cost-benefit balance in the process ofrural energy transformation, improve the quality of rural energy use, and make sure that green energy in rural areas is "usable, affordable, well used, and long term used".
With the goal of enhancing energy data support, we will improve the statistical system for low-carbon and greentransformationof agriculture-related energy. Aiming at solving the weakstatistical mechanism foragriculture-related energy and the inadequate support from big data to rural revitalization, we will strive to build a statistical system of rural energy production and consumption that covers all types of energy and energy of classified industries at the county level, toimprove the quality of energy data collection and strengthen the support of data in terms of all types of energy. On this basis, we will give full play to the role of local governments, define the responsibilities of related departments and units at the county, rural town and village levels very clearly, arrange staffing for surveys of rural energy (including non-commercial energy) production and consumption, establish and improve thebig data system for rural energy productionandconsumption,incorporate rural energy statistical data into government platforms and provide data support for government decision-making and enterprise operation.
We will focus on building a multi-level service systemtoimprove the efficiency and effectiveness of green energy in serving rural revitalization. We will adhere to the principle of government guidanceand market-based operation toproperly deal with the relationship between governments and effective market, and put emphasis on service organizations, financial factors and talents to explore an energy transformation service system that combines market-oriented operation with government policy supportandimprove the efficiency of green transformation. We will accelerate the developmentof rural energy service organizations, encourage and guide rural households and village collectives to buildor cooperate with market entities in buildingrural energy infrastructure and service outlets, and improve the level of rural energy public services. We will strengthen financial factor support for rural energy, encourage governmentsand private capital to cooperate in PPP, and guide social forces into areas that can be commercialized, such as rural energy stations and comprehensive energy services, so as to achievefinancial synergy. We will also step up efforts inteam building for rural energy, enrich the technical force of rural energy service and expand the number of rural energy personnel.
Publishedon September 29, 2022