Energy Strategy Choices: A Comparative Perspective from China-US Energy Consumption
Comparison of Energy Consumption and Resource Utilization Efficiency
The United States, with 4.6% of the global population, consumes 23% of the world's energy, reflecting significant resource waste. For example:
Toilet paper: Annual per capita consumption in the U.S. reaches 141 rolls, far exceeding China's 49 rolls.
Food waste: The U.S. discards nearly 60 million tons annually, accounting for 40% of its food supply.
In contrast, China emphasizes intensive resource utilization, with an energy consumption structure oriented toward production. Industrial electricity consumption accounts for 73%, while residential electricity in the U.S. reaches 40%. Monthly average electricity consumption in the U.S. (384 kWh) is 4.3 times that of China (88 kWh), driven by widespread use of high-energy appliances like air conditioners and dryers, as well as community policies restricting outdoor clotheslines, further increasing energy consumption.
Differences in Energy Structure and Strategic Choices
The U.S. energy structure is dominated by fossil fuels (79%), leveraging the shale revolution to become the world's largest oil and gas producer. China, facing energy shortages in oil and gas with high import dependence, has adopted a diversified strategy, including the construction of the China-Russia gas pipeline and a 27-year LNG agreement with Qatar, while accelerating renewable energy development to ensure energy security.
By the end of 2024, China's renewable energy installed capacity reached 1.889 billion kW, accounting for 56% of the national total. Wind and solar power generation combined reached 1.83 trillion kWh, a year-on-year increase of 27%. The U.S. renewable energy capacity was only 313 million kW, less than one-fifth of China's.
New Energy Industry Chain and Global Competitiveness
China has built the world's most comprehensive new energy industry chain, covering core areas such as PV modules, wind turbines, new energy vehicles, and lithium batteries. In 2024, exports of the "New Three" (new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and PV products) exceeded 1 trillion yuan, with NEV exports surpassing 2 million units for the first time, lithium battery exports reaching 3.91 billion units, and PV product exports exceeding 200 billion yuan for four consecutive years. China holds 70% of the global PV module market and 60% of the wind power equipment market, dominating global green industry competition with cost and technological advantages.
Although the U.S. has attempted to restrict China's new energy products through tariffs, these policies have increased costs for domestic renewable energy projects, ultimately borne by consumers.
Stability of Energy Policies and Long-Term Impact
U.S. energy strategy is significantly influenced by political transitions, with policy volatility undermining long-term corporate investment confidence. China adheres to a stable strategy of "coordinated development of traditional and new energy," leveraging institutional advantages to balance energy security and industrial upgrading. It also deepens green international cooperation, such as building 1.5 GW PV power stations in Africa and promoting grid interconnections in Southeast Asia, exporting technical standards and business models to build a "green community with a shared future."
Trends in Restructuring the Global Energy Landscape
China's new energy development is reshaping the global energy power structure. By reducing green electricity costs and mastering core segments of the entire industry chain, China can drive the transition of the energy system from "petrodollar" to "green electricity RMB," shifting from resource control to innovation-led development. This process is not only about climate governance but also key to breaking traditional energy hegemony and restructuring international industrial rules.
In contrast, the U.S. model of relying on financial hegemony and geopolitical conflicts to transfer costs is unsustainable, and its wavering energy strategy has hindered industrial sustainability.
Conclusion
The energy strategy choices of China and the U.S. reflect different development logics: China achieves energy autonomy through breakthroughs in new energy technology and industrial chain integration, while the U.S. is constrained by policy volatility and resource waste. In the future, the core of global energy competition will focus on green technology innovation and industrial resilience. China's continued leadership in this field may provide an "Eastern Solution" for global energy transition, promoting a fairer and more sustainable new energy order.
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