Institute of Energy, Environment, and Economy, Tsinghua University (3E), established in 1980, is a university-wide interdisciplinary research and education institution, and a joint initiative of Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University and School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University. 3E is among the pioneers in terms of research on energy systems analysis and climate change among Chinese universities. 3E has also been selected as a key national center for Management Science and Engineering research and education by Ministry of Education. 3E is also among the earliest institutions which are entitled to have doctoral and post-doctoral programs in China.
It has undertaken a lot of high-profile projects under the framework of National Key Technologies R & D Program, National Science and Technology Support Program，the National Key Basic Research Program(the 973 Program), National Key Science and Technology R & D Program, Key and Major Programs of China's National Natural Science Foundation, Major Program of China’s National Social Science Foundation, and other equivalent programs at provincial and ministerial levels. It has supported the work of the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the National Energy Administration, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and Beijing Municipal Government. It is a think tank of global climate governance with international influence.
Since 2000, 3E has proposed a dozen or so policy recommendations to advise governmental agencies on relevant decision-making, published over 200 research papers in such high-profile journals as Science, Nature Energy and Nature Climate Change, and more than 40 academic monographs, and received the second prize(two times) and third prize of the State Science and Technology Advancement Award, and the first prize of Outstanding Research Achievements of Institutes of Higher Education (Humanities and Social Sciences) , and about 10 other science and technology honors of provincial and ministerial level or above. Since 2005, 3E Institute’s project funds have topped 200 million Yuan, and its top talent cultivation has seen a remarkable milestone as total 396 graduates including both master and doctoral students earned their degrees or diplomas respectively, and 55 post-docs pursued their studies.
NOW, there are 27 full-time researchers, more than 30 doctoral students and 10 master students, work or study in 3E.
- MISSION and GOALS
Mission: Create, develop and disseminate the knowledge, ideas and methodologies needed for building sustainable energy systems and climate change mitigation, and provide scientific solutions to sustainable energy system transformation and low carbon development for China and the world.
Goals: Through conducting multidisciplinary and high-quality academic researches, 3E would like to become a leading academic institution with global reputations, a policy think tank with global influences, and a cradle of future leaders.
- RESEARCH FIELDS
Energy and Climate Change Model
In order to tackle the key scientific issues involved in decision makings on energy and climate change mitigation, there is a need to research and develop energy and climate change models at different levels and from different perspectives to simulate the relationships and interactions among economy system, energy system, and climate system, conduct integrated assessments of alternative energy technology pathways and climate mitigation strategies, and provide, and provide quantitative analytical tools for energy and climate policy-makings.
Energy Strategy and Planning
The researches under this group includes energy resource assessment, energy technology evaluation, energy demand forecasting, energy and economic scenario analysis, and identification of the strategic technological and policy options for sustainable energy system transformation.
Theories and Mechanisms of Low Carbon Development
The researches under this group include climate change economics, low-carbon development theories, indicators of low carbon development, pathways of low-carbon development, and low carbon development mechanisms and policies.
International Climate Change Mitigation Regimes and Mechanisms
The researches under this group include global climate mitigation targets and pathways, and international regimes and mechanisms for addressing climate change.
New and Renewable Energy
The researches under this group include dynamics of the development of such new and renewable energies as clean coal, nuclear, wind, biomass, and solar, and policies and institutional arrangements to facilitate the research, development, and deployment of the technologies associated with these new and renewable energies.
Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation
The researches under this group include dynamics of energy conservation, and policies and institutional arrangements to facilitate the research, development, and deployment of the energy efficient technologies in industry and building sector.
Automotive Energy
The researches under this group include automotive demand forecasting, dynamics of automotive technology development and deployment, dynamics of automotive energy technology development and deployment, life cycle analysis of alternative automotive energy pathways, and policies and institutional arrangements for sustainable automotive energy transformation.