Grid flexibility, renewable power storage the real solution to China’s energy security issues, not coal plants, analysts say

Name: Chinese manufacturing thrown into disarray as country's electricity crisis rolls on
Uploaded: 2023-04-28T00:00:13.000Z
Duration: 4 min 1 s
Description: Chinese manufacturing thrown into disarray as country's electricity crisis rolls on

China must enhance its energy security by investing more in grid infrastructure to improve its flexibility to cope with demand and supply, analysts say

China approved 20.45GW of coal power in the first quarter, more than the 18.55GW in the whole of 2021

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China needs to resolve inefficiencies in its grid infrastructure and grid management, analysts say. Photo: AFP

Yujie Xuein Shenzhen

Published: 8:00am, 28 Apr 2023

China can enhance its energy security by investing more in grid infrastructure and storage to keep up with the rapid growth in renewable energy to better cope with demand and supply shocks instead of building coal-fired power plants, according to analysts.

Coal is not the answer to address the inefficiencies in China’s energy system, and it risks climate disasters, financial burden and locking the nation into a high-carbon pathway, said Xie Wenwen, a climate and energy campaigner at Greenpeace East Asia.

“Inflexibility in China’s electric grid is a big problem now, and will be an even bigger problem later if it’s not addressed soon,” said Xie, adding that dependency on coal will make the nation’s energy transition more difficult.

Her comments come after a report by the environmental group on Monday showed that China’s provincial governments approved at least 20.45 gigawatts (GW) of new coal power in the first three months of 2023, exceeding the 18.55GW approved during the whole of 2021.

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Chinese manufacturing thrown into disarray as country's electricity crisis rolls on

Following a power crisis that affected half of China in 2021 and another one last summer due to a drought-induced hydropower shortage, China approved 106GW of new coal capacity in 2022, the most since 2015, to ensure the nation’s energy security, according to a study released by US-based research network Global Energy Monitor in February.

Energy security continues to be a major concern this year. Terms such as “ensuring safe energy supply”, “meeting heating demand”, “meeting growing energy demand”, and “stimulating local economic development” were frequently mentioned in the official documents of this year’s coal power approval, according to Greenpeace.