改革开放以来，中国经济快速发展，各行各业均取得巨大成就。同时，经济的快速发展也对自然资源和环境带来了影响。中国现在是世界上最大的能源消费国和排放国之一，有必要减少二氧化硫、氮氧化物、微粒、汞及二氧化碳这一温室气体的排放。
为满足经济快速增长带来的巨大能源需求，中国必须利用其丰富的煤炭资源。而为减少二氧化碳等的排放，中国有必要加快开发清洁低碳环保的能源技术，并加以高效利用。
为应对上述挑战，北京低碳清洁能源研究所（以下简称“低碳所”）于2009年12月成立。低碳所是中国的国家级研究机构，由神华集团公司出资组建，清洁能源是其研究重点。神华集团公司是一家一体化能源集团，业务包括煤矿、电力、铁路、港口、煤制油及煤化工。
神华集团是世界上最大的煤炭公司。而作为一家工业研发机构，低碳所旨在开发新技术以提高煤炭使用效率，减少环境污染，并开发其他清洁能源技术。
Fast economic growth since the beginning of China’s reforms and opening has produced great achievements in all sectors; albeit, with a high impact on natural resources and the environment. China is today one of the largest energy users in the world and must cut emissions such as sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides,particulates, Hg, and the green house gas CO2.
China must take advantage of its vast coal resources to satisfy the fast growing demand for energy required to continue to drive economic growth. To reduce emissions & CO2, China needs to accelerate the development and deployment of energy efficient and environmentally friendly low carbon energy technologies.
To meet these challenges, the National Institute of Clean-And-Low-Carbon Energy (NICE) was established in December of 2009. NICE is a national research institute focused on energy which is funded by the Shenhua Group, an integrated energy conglomerate with businesses including coal mining, power, railway, ports, coal to liquids, and coal to chemicals.
Shenhua, based in China, is the largest coal company in the world. NICE, an industrial research and development organization is positioning to enable reduction of the environmental impact and increase the efficiency in the utilization of coal, and develop other clean energy technologies.
