Beijing, China:
China started construction of projects last year with the largest combined coal power capacity since 2015, so that the aim of the country to jeopardize the carbon emissions by 2030, according to a report that was published on Thursday.
The second largest economy in the world is the largest emitter of the greenhouse gases that stimulate climate change, but also a powerhouse for renewable energy. It is planning to reach Zero by 2060.
Although coal has been a crucial energy source in China for decades, the explosive growth of wind and solar installations has called in hope in recent years that the country can weaten itself from the dirty fossil fuel.
But according to a report from the Center for Research into Energy and Schone Air (Craa) and Global Energy Monitor (GEM) in the United States, China started in 2024 on 94.5 gigawatts of coal-power projects-93 percent the global total in 2024.
Although the country has also added a record 356 gigawatt of wind and solar capacity – 4.5 times the additions of the European Union – the increase in the coal force risks its role in China's energy mix, according to the report.
“The rapid expansion of China of Renewable Energy has the potential to reform its energy system, but this opportunity is undermined by the simultaneous large-scale expansion of the coal power,” said Qi Qin, chief author of the report and China analyst at Crea.
Despite a promise from Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2021, the turnout comes to “strictly control” coal power projects and increase in coal consumption before “it knocked down” between 2026 and 2030.
Coal production has steadily risen in recent years, from 3.9 billion tonnes in 2020 to 4.8 billion tons in 2024.
“Without urgent policy shifts, China risks strengthening a pattern of energy addiction instead of transition, which limits the full potential of his clean energy tree,” the report said.
Coal priority
New permits for coal power projects fell by 83 percent in the first half of 2024, which gave rise to optimism that the transition from Chinese Clean Energy was at the pace.
In November, a study among experts by Crea and the Australian Think Tank International Society for Energy Transition Studies (ISETs) showed that 52 percent thought that the coal consumption of China would peak in 2025.
But the coal force rose in the last months of 2024, despite the fact that the country adds sufficient power from clean energy sources to cover the growth of the electricity demand.
That suggested that the coal power in some regions was given priority over renewable sources, according to the report.
“Chinese coal power and mining companies sponsor and build new coal-fired power stations above what is needed,” says Christine Shearer, research analyst at gem.
“The constant pursuit of coal is the use of the land of cheaper clean energy throughout the country.”
China will visit the details of its 15th five-year plan-for 2026 to 2030-in in the coming months, probably including updated emissions and energy goals.
This month it was also due to the submission of new emission goals, known as National Contributions (NDCs), under the Parisian Agreement 2015.
So far, only a handful of countries has submitted new NDCs.
In October, Crea urged China to set a “strong but feasible” target to reduce emissions by at least 30 percent by 2035 by at least 30 percent.
(This story was not edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)
