China continues to rely more on coal energy production, and last year began the construction of projects for the production of electricity by coal plants (TPP) with a total capacity of about 94.5 gigs.
This is the most significant pace of the construction of new coal capacities in the country since 2015, the latest report by the NGO Center for Studies of Energy and Pure Air (CREA) and a global energy monitor (GEM) reports world agencies quoted by BTA.
China, which is the largest consumer of coal in the world And a source of greenhouse gases, he had announced that he would “control strictly” the energy produced from fossil fuels during the period 2021 – 2025. However, fears of electricity shortage led to a jump in the construction of new coal plants after 2023, the authors of the report said.
“If coal keeps a high share in China’s energy system for too long, it will be much harder to achieve a quick drop in emissions”announced Qing Qing, a researcher at the Energy and Clean Air Research Center and a leading author of the report.
“This, in turn, can create challenges facing global efforts in the climate, especially at a time when countries are expected to strengthen their ambitions for 2035 goals.”added Qi.
The growth of the construction of more coal plants comes against the backdrop of a record increase in capacity from renewable sources in 2024, which can make it difficult to join clean energy sources to the electricity transmission network, the report said.
China has taken out of use more than 100 gigant outdated coal capacities over the last decadeand new projects can only be built as a reserve facilities.
“China’s current pressure on new energy from fossil fuels is mainly guided by the interests of industry that progress in expanding (use) of coal due to energy security”said more.
The new plants that have come into operation are expected to generate a total of 30.5 gigs of power compared to 49.8 gigs in 2023.
“Extension of energy from fossil fuels in China contrasts with global trends. New coal projects in China represent 93 percent of all similar construction works worldwide in 2024.“, writes in the report.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, there was a drastic decline in the use of solar and wind energy, while the country continued to generate electricity from fossil fuels, although demand for electricity increased more slowly, experts say.
“The rapid expansion of renewable energy in China has the potential to change the country’s energy system, but this possibility is undermined by the simultaneous large -scale expansion of energy extracted by coal”announced the Qi.
Without decisive policy changes, China’s energy transition will remain a “addition” rather than a real transformation, he added.
Last year, the Center for Energy and Clean Air Studies noted that Beijing had authorized the construction of much less energy projects than coal in the first half of 2024 than during the same period a year earlier. Accordingly, 83 percent fewer projects have been approved.
However, China builds more solar and wind energy on any other side. According to the country’s national energy administration, Beijing has put into operation Sun panels and wind turbines with a capacity of 356 gigawatts in 2024.reaching six years ahead of its goal for 1200 gigs of electricity from renewable sources.
By comparison Germany has added about 16.2 gigawatts of photovoltaic and 2.5 wind energy gigs in 2024.DPA recalls.
However, China is considered to be the largest source of greenhouse gas carbon dioxide in the world. Beijing aims to reach the peak of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2030 and to achieve zero net emissions by 2060.
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