Report on World Tourism Economy Trends (2018) Excerpt -11 New energy revolution will effectively support sustainable development of tourism industry

1. Characteristics

(1) New energy industry is vibrant

Low-carbon clean energy technologies based on solar energy, wind energy, biological energy, geothermal energy and other distributed energy sources will vest the human society with an unlimited huge energy warehouse. Sustainable clean energies can be generated with photoelectric cell panels, wind vanes, biological decomposition technology and geothermal heat collection technology to take place of traditional fossil energies. Combination with communication technologies will trigger a new energy revolution, which will involve economy, environmental governance and comprehensive lifestyle change and deliver a material impact on the world situation.

(2) Renewable energy hit a historical high of power generation in 2015

Renewable energy hit a historical high of power generation in 2015 and took a percentage of up to 6.7% in the global power generation. China and Germany increased the renewable energy power generation to the biggest extent. In the global renewable energy structure, wind energy remained the largest source of power generation with a share of 52.2%, the solar power generation grew 32.6%, and China overtook Germany and US to become the world’s largest country by solar power generation. The nuclear power generation grew 1.3% and satisfied 4.4% of the global primary energy consumption. However, hydraulic power generation grew only 1%, which was lower than the annual growth rate of 3% over the past decade. The global biological fuel output grew only 0.9%, which was far lower than the average value of 14.3% over the past decade.

Figure 3.9 Share of Renewable Energy Power Generation by Increment in 2015

Data Source: BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2016 (2016)

(3) New energy revolution is represented by solar power generation

New energy revolution is represented by solar power generation, which will trigger the development of many emerging ecological industries, navigate the future direction of global economic growth and reshape the global economic landscape. In 2016, the global new energy investment (excluding hydropower projects above 50MW) grew by USD 241.6 billion, including some USD 187.1 billion that finally flew to large wind farms and photoelectric power stations. The new energy revolution will propel the development of related industrial clusters, such as photoelectric equipment, biological decomposition materials, wind power equipment, software and scientific research. The revolution involves five areas, including new material, new energy, new energy vehicle, high-end equipment manufacturing and energy saving & environmental protection. It will promote the change in the new energy consumption industry and trigger the innovation of terminal products and industrial upgrade. Some new products will enter our consumption areas, such as new energy multimedia, solar tent, mobile printer, other new energy office suppliers, solar oven and other home appliances. The investment growth will create more jobs. Until 2016, 9.80 million people did the work related to new energy worldwide.

(4) Energy revolution is the core of the competitive and industrial strategy of one country

Over the past two decades, the EU’s new energy industry has grown very quickly, benefiting from core technologies. In 2001-2014, the share of new energy in total energy consumption rose 63% and the average growth rate was as high as 69%. The EU has regained the global leadership during the third Industrial Revolution through energy technologies. While US implements the energy “diversification" strategy, Americas have carried forward the work to develop the “shale gas” technology and increased the self-sufficiency ratio of energy. At the same time, Americas have strengthened “new energy” infrastructure construction, developed the distributed energy network and built the superconducting grid and the energy expressway (Dong Xiaojun, 2017). During the 13th Five-year Plan, China will adjust the energy structure – By 2020, increase the share of non-fossil energy to above 15%, strive to increase the share of natural gas to 10% and reduce the share of coal to below 58%.

Figure 3.10 Planned Energy Structure by 2020

Data Source: The National Energy Administration of China, 2017

2. Application to tourism industry

The new energy revolution will change the energy consumption structure of the tourism industry. Scenic spots, hotels, restaurants and families can widely use clean and pollution-free solar energy to replace traditional energy in reception facilities and reduce pollution.

(1) New energy power generation can conserve the tourism ecosystem

Infrastructure construction, such as traditional power line laying, tends to destroy the natural environment. However, solar energy equipment can conserve the natural environment, protect some areas where power line laying is unsuitable and prevent the damage of vegetation. By deploying the core device of solar power generation in the scenic spot, we can avoid the long-distance transmission from an external power station, reduce the building of many posts and other devices in the traditional power transmission line, and minimize the ecological damage from power supply. The solar power generation system connected with the grid can directly supply power to the grid, thereby saving the energy storage and release with the storage battery, reducing the energy loss and reduce the system cost.

Figure 3.11 Ratios of Different Energies in Global Power Production in 2016

Data Source: Hexun.com, 2016

(2) New energy can provide technical support for small ships

Solar energy, new energy and other new energies are now used more and more widely on small ships. In particular, with continuous development of tourism industry, lake and inland river destinations have strengthened the development of water tourism and infrastructure construction. The Ministry of Transport has defined new energy ships as a new direction of water transport technology in the 12th Five-year Plan. To protect the water resource and environment and improve the tourism quality, solar energy will be used more and more widely to drive sightseeing ships.

(3) Solar energy can provide energy for tourism facilities

Cruisers in many scenic spots usually use solar energy as the power, and the development of ecological tourism has promoted wider application of solar energy with low energy consumption and less pollution. Solar vehicles, solar cooking utensils and solar rechargers provide great convenience for backpacker, long-distance travels and adventures.

Some regions with rich solar energy, wind energy and geothermal resources can develop tourism resources, reduce the industrial pollution and build green tourism cities.

3. Influence on Global Tourism Industry

(1) New energy revolution will promote the global ecological tourism development

First, the revolution will actively propel the development of global ecological tourism, provide a mighty technical support for green tourism and low-carbon tourism, promote the application of energy saving, environmental protection concept and development mode and implement higher environmental protection standards.

(2) New energy revolution will expedite the appearance of new tourism equipment industries

New energy technologies can be applied to upgrade tourism facilities and associated equipment and combine tourism and environmental protection closely. The revolution will expedite the development of emerging industries from planning concept to equipment, from outdoor products to scenic spot planning, from tourism infrastructure construction to energy facility upgrade of hotels and from tourist transport equipment to tourism projects.