China’s coal-fired power capacity expands, bucks global trend, report says
- Capacity has increased by about 4.5 per cent in past 18 months, according to US-based research network Global Energy Monitor
- Environmental groups have accused Beijing of relaxing efforts to curb coal consumption to amid slower economic growth
China also had another 121.3GW of coal-fired power plants under construction, US-based research network Global Energy Monitor said in its report.
The increase followed a 2014-16 “permitting surge” by local governments aiming to boost growth figures, while formerly suspended projects had also been restarted, the report said. In the rest of the world, coal-fired power capacity fell by 8.1GW over the same period.
To cut pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, China has promised to drive an “energy revolution” aimed at dramatically reducing its reliance on coal, which met 59 per cent of its total energy needs last year.
China’s total coal-fired power capacity stands at more than 1,000GW. Global Energy Monitor said it needed to close more than 40 per cent of that to meet greenhouse gas reductions required to keep global temperature rises well below 2 degrees Celsius.
“China’s continued expansion of its coal fleet is not inevitable,” it said. The government could strengthen policies discouraging coal plants, support low-carbon power and begin a transition towards clean energy, it said.
Environmental groups have accused Beijing of relaxing efforts to curb coal consumption, pointing to remarks in October by Premier Li Keqiang, who urged China to make greater use of its coal “endowment” by building clean power plants.
While solar and wind power have already achieved price parity with fossil fuels, some Chinese policymakers worry renewables are unreliable. There are also concerns that decarbonisation will hurt coal regions like Shanxi, which has struggled to find alternative sources of growth.
Some also believed that future energy shortages could hurt China’s attempts to address its slowing economy, said Yang Fuqiang, a senior adviser with the Natural Resources Defence Council, a US environment group.
“Right now there is a big argument about whether China needs more coal-fired power or not,” he said.
“They think the 14th five-year plan (2021-25) will stimulate economic development and they are a little afraid there won’t be enough electricity to support the economy.”
