China pumps out coal plants at increasing pace to allay power-security fears, risking climate transition: Greenpeace
- Coal-plant approvals in the first half of 2023 outpace 2022’s rate and exceed 2021’s total, according to Greenpeace research
- Deepened reliance on coal risks sidelining development of key climate solutions, especially energy storage, that China needs to meet its carbon goals
China continues to approve new coal power plants at an increasing pace in an effort to avoid power shortages and restart economic growth, according to Greenpeace, raising alarm among analysts about the country’s ability to meet its stated decarbonisation goals.
Local governments approved nearly 30 gigawatts (GW) of new coal power capacity in the second quarter of 2023, driving total approvals to 50.4GW in the first half of the year, according to Greenpeace research released on Thursday. That is more than half of last year’s total installation and far exceeds 2021’s full-year total, the report said.
“Local governments want to ensure energy supply and stabilise the economy, and [they] consider coal power as the safest solution for energy security,” said Gao Yuhe, a Beijing-based project leader with Greenpeace East Asia.
China’s economic and industrial powerhouses, including Guangdong, Hebei, Jiangsu, and Shandong provinces are among the regions that have approved the most new coal projects in 2023 so far, according to the report.