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China's Power Paradox: Record Renewables, Continued Coal
China installed record renewable capacity in 2024 while coal power expanded to meet fast-growing electricity demand and ensure grid reliability, CREA reported 93% of new global coal projects.
- Last year, China installed more renewables than all U.S. capacity and sprawling desert solar farms, yet coal power also grew with 93 per cent of new global coal construction in 2024, CREA found.
- China's electricity demand has risen, and grid constraints and long-distance power costs encourage local capacity, with Muyi Yang calling officials' approach `Think of it like a child learning to walk`.
- Economic drivers and grid realities together explain why the clean energy sector contributed a record 10 per cent to China's GDP last year, while coal-fired power plants remain vital as dispatchable resources.
- Officials are hedging by approving more coal plants even if some sit idle after 2021–22 power shortages, while long-distance power trading infrastructure remains incomplete, encouraging local coal build-out.
- China's 2035 target frames the long-term picture as it aims for 3,600 gigawatts wind and solar by 2035, but as the world's top emitter, its choices will shape global climate outcomes while clean energy drives growth.
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Champion of renewables, addicted to coal: China's paradox Admin FCE 19 Oct 2025 - 05:07 This is the Chinese paradox: the country installs renewable energy capacities at a rate that exceeds (by far) that of the rest of the world, but new coal-fired power projects are increasing there.China is the world's leading emitter of greenhouse gases and its environmental policy will largely determine whether the planet will avoid - or not - the worst conse…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources69
Leaning Left5Leaning Right12Center15Last UpdatedBias Distribution47% Center
Bias Distribution
- 47% of the sources are Center
47% Center
L 16%
C 47%
R 37%
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