https://www.scmp.com/rss/509875/feed The business of climate change forms a core part of SCMP’s climate change coverage. Key topics covered include the policy drivers, financing and business case for the commercialisation of low carbon energy technology and solutions – ranging from green hydrogen to wind, solar and nuclear energy – and carbon removal technologies such as afforestation and carbon capture, utilisation and storage. Sustainable consumption of products that reduce the carbon footprint of supply chains are also featured... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Tensions in the Middle East and mounting energy prices have made Beijing less willing to enforce anti-involution or supply consolidation measures on its solar industry, prolonging a price war as solar manufacturers continue to bleed cash, analysts say. “Anti-involution or supply consolidation might not be a top priority for the government,” said Evan Li, head of Asia energy transition research at HSBC. “[The Iran war] will result in much more competitive and low pricing for solar for the time... https://www.scmp.com/business/climate-and-energy/article/3354536/middle-east-tensions-complicate-beijings-push-curb-china-solar-overcapacity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/climate-and-energy/article/3354536/middle-east-tensions-complicate-beijings-push-curb-china-solar-overcapacity?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 May 2026 01:30:07 +0000 Reuters Reuters Pope Leo on Saturday called out companies who seek “dizzying” profits at the cost of environmental pollution, on a visit to an area in Italy known as a hotbed for illegal dumping of toxic waste. On a visit to Acerra, ‌about 220 km (137 miles) south of Rome, the first US pope urged the world to “reject temptations of power and enrichment linked to practices that pollute the land, water, air, and social coexistence”. Leo said he wanted to come to the area near Naples known as the “Land of Fires” –... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3354626/pope-leo-urges-end-pollution-criticises-profits-earned?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3354626/pope-leo-urges-end-pollution-criticises-profits-earned?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 May 2026 10:08:52 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng For nearly two years, China has been waging an intense campaign to eliminate severe overcapacity in the solar industry – an issue that has sparked vicious price wars, undermined domestic firms’ bottom lines, and fuelled protectionist policies overseas. Yet, despite Beijing’s repeated efforts, the problem remains far from resolved. The sector is still plagued by excess capacity, leaving firms across the supply chain operating at a loss. The mismatch between rhetoric and outcomes is particularly... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3354551/how-illegal-factories-are-undermining-chinas-solar-overcapacity-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3354551/how-illegal-factories-are-undermining-chinas-solar-overcapacity-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 May 2026 08:00:10 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng In a significant leap for green-energy tracking, researchers from Peking University and Alibaba Group’s Damo Academy have used AI to map hundreds of thousands of solar and wind installations across China. The initiative resulted in a first-of-its-kind national inventory designed to help coordinate the country’s ambitious green transition. By leveraging a self-developed AI model from Damo, the research team processed a massive 7.56 terabytes of satellite imagery. The algorithm identified 319,972... https://www.scmp.com/business/climate-and-energy/article/3354387/ai-gives-china-gods-eye-view-solar-wind-installations-data-centre-demand-booms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/climate-and-energy/article/3354387/ai-gives-china-gods-eye-view-solar-wind-installations-data-centre-demand-booms?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 13:00:07 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi ClearVue Technologies, an Australian solar technology company, will set up a joint venture with a Chinese partner in Hong Kong to produce power-generating glass for building facades, a concept seen as timely given rising energy prices amid geopolitical tensions. The Australian Securities Exchange-listed firm aims to take advantage of the manufacturing prowess of mainland China to provide “affordable” glass for commercial buildings via the joint venture with vacuum-glass maker LandVac, said Doug... https://www.scmp.com/business/climate-and-energy/article/3353712/every-window-solar-panel-australia-china-joint-venture-set-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/climate-and-energy/article/3353712/every-window-solar-panel-australia-china-joint-venture-set-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 May 2026 03:30:07 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji South and Southeast Asian nations may emerge as unexpected clean energy beneficiaries after the Green Party of England and Wales made record-breaking gains in recent UK local council elections, according to analysts. The Greens expanded their footprint in the May 7 council elections, capitalising on widespread voter disillusionment with Britain’s two major parties, Labour and Conservative. It was the party’s best-ever performance in a local election. While Nigel Farage’s right-wing populist... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3353672/greening-uk-politics-could-mean-big-business-asian-renewable-exporters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3353672/greening-uk-politics-could-mean-big-business-asian-renewable-exporters?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 06:45:17 +0000 Christine Loh Christine Loh There is growing unease in how we describe political systems today. Words that once seemed clear no longer illuminate as they should. “Free”, “democratic”, “liberal” and “authoritarian” are among the most commonly used terms in political discourse, yet their meanings have become increasingly blurred and contested. This is not simply a matter of semantics. It reflects a deeper mismatch between the language we use and the realities we are trying to describe. The problem is not new. In George... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3352499/rise-china-complicates-authoritarian-vs-democratic-binary?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3352499/rise-china-complicates-authoritarian-vs-democratic-binary?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 01:30:05 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Canadian Solar, one of the industry’s most exposed players to US-China tensions, is expanding the role of its Hong Kong operations as it reshapes its global business to weather a deepening downturn and rising geopolitical pressure, positioning the city as a hub for financing, talent and technology development, according to its board director. The Nasdaq-listed group, founded in 2001 by Chinese entrepreneur Shawn Qu, has been grappling with increasingly stringent compliance requirements from... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3352524/canadian-solar-elevates-hong-kong-role-amid-industry-slump-and-geopolitical-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3352524/canadian-solar-elevates-hong-kong-role-amid-industry-slump-and-geopolitical-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 00:00:09 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao China Resources Power (CRP), one of the largest mainland power producers listed in Hong Kong, has received approval to spin off its renewable energy arm for a separate listing in Shenzhen, marking a key step in a years-long plan to tap capital markets amid strong demand for new energy. The Shenzhen Stock Exchange’s listing committee approved the proposed A-share offering of China Resources New Energy Holdings on April 28, according to a filing by CRP. The deal, however, still required... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3351785/china-resources-power-wins-shenzhen-nod-renewable-energy-units-listing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3351785/china-resources-power-wins-shenzhen-nod-renewable-energy-units-listing?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 04:15:10 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd (CATL) has taken a leap forward in commercialising sodium-ion batteries, signing a large supply contract with an energy-storage system (ESS) provider amid high demand for power infrastructure after the global oil shock. The world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) and ESS battery maker announced on Monday that it would deliver 60 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of sodium-ion batteries to Beijing HyperStrong Technology over three years in a landmark deal for the new battery... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351601/chinas-catl-touts-landmark-order-deepseek-moment-sodium-ion-batteries?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351601/chinas-catl-touts-landmark-order-deepseek-moment-sodium-ion-batteries?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:16:17 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan is planning to build what could become the world’s largest floating wind farm – a gigawatt-scale project off the Izu Islands to power the island chain and Tokyo. But the plan, championed by Governor Yuriko Koike, is facing questions over whether it can be delivered by 2035. There are also doubts about the power generation forecast and whether Japan could tackle the technical demands of such a megaproject. Koike first announced the wind farm project at a climate change conference in... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351366/japan-aims-build-worlds-largest-wind-farm-can-it-power-2035?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351366/japan-aims-build-worlds-largest-wind-farm-can-it-power-2035?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:17 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong Chinese scientists have developed a way to generate electricity and achieve higher energy efficiency than conventional burning methods, while producing zero carbon dioxide emissions, by placing coal inside a “battery”. “Coal-fired power” conjures images of heavy pollution, steep carbon footprints and modest efficiency. But a novel, direct coal power technology challenges that stereotype by eliminating combustion entirely and sidestepping the carbon dioxide emissions that have long defined coal... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351241/china-unveils-worlds-first-coal-fuel-cell-can-produce-electricity-zero-emission?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351241/china-unveils-worlds-first-coal-fuel-cell-can-produce-electricity-zero-emission?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 10:00:15 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Amid geopolitical tensions, China’s Tianqi Lithium has decided to skip Africa and will stick to domestic salt lakes to secure the supply of a battery mineral, according to its president Frank Ha Chun-shing. The move comes as the oil shock stemming from Middle Eastern conflicts is driving up global demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and battery energy storage systems (BESSs). Lithium, which can be extracted from hard rock and salt flat brines, can be processed into lithium carbonate, a raw... https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3351363/chinas-tianqi-lithium-favour-domestic-salt-lakes-over-africa-amid-resource-nationalism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3351363/chinas-tianqi-lithium-favour-domestic-salt-lakes-over-africa-amid-resource-nationalism?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 23:30:08 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu The wind industry smells opportunity in Europe. At an expo in Madrid this week, the convention floor was abuzz as hundreds of European, American, Japanese and Korean exhibitors vied to pitch their products, knowing the continent urgently needs to shore up its energy security amid the US-Israel war on Iran. But there was one glaring absence: not a single company operating a booth was Chinese, with China’s participants only networking from the sidelines. At a time when many in Europe seek a rapid... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351318/its-tightrope-why-europe-faces-china-dilemma-over-its-wind-power-drive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351318/its-tightrope-why-europe-faces-china-dilemma-over-its-wind-power-drive?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:30:08 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma China plans to commission seven new nuclear reactors this year, as the nation develops the world’s largest atomic energy fleet as part of efforts to boost energy self-sufficiency. The country already has 60 plants in commercial service, with 36 more under construction, CCTV said, citing the China Nuclear Energy Association (CNEA). The country has the engineering construction capability to build 50 reactors at a time, and has achieved 100 per cent localisation for main nuclear power equipment,... https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3351145/nuclear-power-revival-gets-boost-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3351145/nuclear-power-revival-gets-boost-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:12:36 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng China has announced that it now has the capacity to build up to 50 nuclear reactors simultaneously, as it doubles down on a push to rapidly expand its nuclear power generation and become a global leader in the sector. The figure came from a report released by the China Nuclear Energy Association (CNEA) on Friday, which highlights the country’s ability to run dozens of nuclear projects concurrently spanning the full project life cycle – from design to construction. “China’s nuclear technology... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350847/chinas-vast-nuclear-power-sector-now-able-build-50-reactors-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350847/chinas-vast-nuclear-power-sector-now-able-build-50-reactors-time?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 07:12:39 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang As the US-Israel war on Iran raises global concerns about energy security, a new report has found that the clean power sector is rapidly gaining ground and emerging as a solution for nations looking to reduce their reliance on oil and gas imports. The world passed a significant turning point in 2025 as clean power generation rose faster than global demand for electricity, preventing an increase in fossil fuel generation, according to the study by London-based energy think tank Ember released on... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350759/turning-point-clean-energy-met-100-worlds-new-power-needs-2025-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350759/turning-point-clean-energy-met-100-worlds-new-power-needs-2025-report?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 23:01:07 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren One in every six Asia-Pacific companies would face credit pressure from a prolonged energy shock arising from the Middle East conflict, as they deal with higher costs from rising oil prices and supply disruptions, according to S&P Global Ratings. Companies in the fields of downstream oil and gas, aviation, automotive, engineering and construction, and building materials would bear the brunt of the pain brought on by the war that has already sent crude prices up more than 30 per cent since the... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3350357/one-six-asia-pacific-firms-faces-credit-pressure-iran-war-energy-shock-sp-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3350357/one-six-asia-pacific-firms-faces-credit-pressure-iran-war-energy-shock-sp-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:00:13 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Amid heightening global anxieties over energy security fuelled by the escalating conflict in the Middle East, China’s top energy regulator has pledged to accelerate the development of its hydrogen industry, hailing the fuel as a “strategic lever” to fortify national energy resilience. The National Energy Administration (NEA) called for “bold innovation” in the sector during a recent meeting reviewing the progress of hydrogen pilots and outlining future tasks, according to an official readout... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350313/china-fast-tracks-hydrogen-strategy-scale-phase-high-stakes-energy-transition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350313/china-fast-tracks-hydrogen-strategy-scale-phase-high-stakes-energy-transition?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:00:21 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Shares of Chinese energy storage system (ESS) maker Sigenergy Technology jumped 103 per cent on their Hong Kong trading debut, as concerns surrounding energy security due to the conflict in the Middle East boost demand for renewable-energy solutions. The Shanghai-based company’s shares opened at HK$581, versus its offer price of HK$324.20. It climbed further and closed at HK$659.50. The firm raised HK$4.4 billion (US$560 million) from its initial public offering. On the grey market on Wednesday... https://www.scmp.com/business/investor-relations/ipo-quote-profile/article/3350260/sigenergy-jumps-83-hong-kong-debut-rising-energy-storage-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/investor-relations/ipo-quote-profile/article/3350260/sigenergy-jumps-83-hong-kong-debut-rising-energy-storage-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:23:05 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi The chairmen of China’s battery and solar giants have called for more top-down regulations to rein in cutthroat competition, warning that unchecked overcapacity is squeezing profits and threatening the industry’s stability. Despite tailwinds including the Middle East conflict that could increase demand for renewable products, overcapacity remains a major challenge for industry players. Zhang Tianren, chairman of Tianneng Holding Group – ranked second behind Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd... https://www.scmp.com/business/climate-and-energy/article/3349627/chinas-battery-solar-bosses-urge-top-down-rules-overcapacity-clouds-industry-outlook?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/climate-and-energy/article/3349627/chinas-battery-solar-bosses-urge-top-down-rules-overcapacity-clouds-industry-outlook?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 06:00:15 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese electric vehicle (EV) batteries are set to become safer and more powerful, as carmakers including SAIC Motor and Chery Automobile outline road maps for the commercialisation of solid-state technology. Solid-state batteries – which use a solid electrolyte to conduct ions between electrodes – are widely seen as a superior alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries that rely on liquid or gel-based materials. Analysts say the technology promises higher energy density, improved safety... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349348/safer-longer-range-evs-sight-china-accelerates-solid-state-battery-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349348/safer-longer-range-evs-sight-china-accelerates-solid-state-battery-push?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:00:08 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng China has broken ground on a 50-megawatt concentrated solar power plant in Tibet at an altitude of 4,550 metres (14,900 feet), making it the world’s highest-altitude parabolic trough solar thermal facility. The project, located in Dangxiong County, incorporates a 400-megawatt photovoltaic system and is scheduled for full operation by 2027, Xinhua reported. Preparatory digging at the site began on Monday. Global energy supplies have grown increasingly volatile in recent years, due to climate... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3349255/china-starts-work-solar-plant-built-under-extreme-conditions-amid-global-energy-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3349255/china-starts-work-solar-plant-built-under-extreme-conditions-amid-global-energy-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 10:58:07 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren China’s Ganfeng Lithium, the world’s largest producer of lithium metal, is envisioning an “explosive growth” in the global energy storage system (ESS) market in 2026, spurred by higher prices of the key battery material and buoyant demand for renewable energy infrastructure. Executives including president Wang Xiaoshen told an investors’ conference on Tuesday that the global decarbonisation drive had created a strong and sustainable trajectory for Ganfeng, which swung from loss to profit last... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348628/ganfeng-lithium-forecasts-strong-battery-demand-amid-china-us-rivalry-renewable-energy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348628/ganfeng-lithium-forecasts-strong-battery-demand-amid-china-us-rivalry-renewable-energy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:00:21 +0000 Andy Xie Andy Xie The Iran war’s oil shock has dramatically increased the security risk for oil-dependent countries, incentivising a turn towards renewable energy. This impact will outlast the war and oil price spikes because the world knows this war will recur. China will be the biggest beneficiary and its exports are likely to do very well this year, offsetting losses from buying higher-priced oil. A fifth of the global supply of oil and liquefied natural gas plus a third of seaborne fertilisers traditionally... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347634/oil-shocked-world-turns-renewables-china-will-reap-rewards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347634/oil-shocked-world-turns-renewables-china-will-reap-rewards?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:30:07 +0000 Mandy Zuo,Mia Nurmamat Mandy Zuo,Mia Nurmamat A Shanghai-based start-up claims to have mastered a technique for producing synthetic petroleum at low cost from air and water, as China intensifies efforts to develop alternatives to traditional fossil fuels amid the US-Israel war against Iran. Carbonology announced it had created a process for converting carbon dioxide extracted from air and water into artificial fuel using solar and wind energy, Chinese media outlet Cailianshe reported on Tuesday. The company – co-founded by a former... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346892/unlimited-gas-chinese-firm-claims-it-can-produce-petroleum-air-and-water?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346892/unlimited-gas-chinese-firm-claims-it-can-produce-petroleum-air-and-water?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:00:16 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday said Europe’s turn away from nuclear power had been a “strategic mistake”, as soaring oil prices rekindled concerns about the bloc’s energy vulnerability. Speaking in Paris at a nuclear summit, which aims to boost the use of civilian nuclear energy, the European Commission president endorsed a return to atomic energy, saying the European Union would back investments in “innovative nuclear technologies”. “It was a strategic mistake for Europe to turn its... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3346139/eu-eyes-nuclear-energy-again-oil-prices-soar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3346139/eu-eyes-nuclear-energy-again-oil-prices-soar?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:10:06 +0000 David Dodwell David Dodwell As the world’s largest oil and gas importer, China undoubtedly faces a significant disruption, what with the US-Israeli war on Iran and its cascading impact across the Gulf. But it could have been worse. Beijing has worked unstintingly for well over a decade to build energy self-reliance and reduce the role of fossil fuels in powering the country’s manufacturing economy. For leaders gathered in Beijing for the annual parliamentary “two sessions” meetings, which will endorse China’s 15th... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3345607/chinas-energy-transition-proves-boon-iran-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3345607/chinas-energy-transition-proves-boon-iran-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 08:30:07 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela China will power up an ultra-efficient, nuclear waste-burning reactor with technology that it projects will safely meet humanity’s energy needs for the next 1,000 years. Accelerator-driven subcritical systems (ADS) are advanced nuclear reactors that can both generate energy and transmute long-lived radioactive waste into shorter-lived and less hazardous isotopes. Designed by researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) along with state nuclear enterprises, the China Initiative... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3345661/1000-year-source-china-plans-fire-world-first-accelerator-driven-nuclear-reactor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3345661/1000-year-source-china-plans-fire-world-first-accelerator-driven-nuclear-reactor?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 03:59:33 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial In 2022, the world’s largest electric cruise ship embarked on its maiden voyage in Yichang, Hubei province. The Yangtze River Three Gorges 1, which can carry up to 1,300 passengers, runs on battery power and can reportedly save 530 tonnes of fuel and 1,660 tonnes of harmful emissions per year. The vessel displayed the commercial and technical feasibility of electric ships. China is the world’s largest shipbuilder and the pre-eminent manufacturer of electric vehicles and advanced batteries. Now,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345393/china-steps-its-clean-energy-push-electric-ships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345393/china-steps-its-clean-energy-push-electric-ships?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Chinese companies are primed to capitalise on a vast global wave of investment in clean energy infrastructure in the coming decades, as they are able to deploy solutions at a scale and cost that few can match, analysts said. With China already rolling out green technologies – from wind and solar power to electric cars and batteries – at a massive scale domestically, its firms have the resources and know-how that other countries need to reduce their reliance on coal-fired power plants and... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344902/china-poised-earn-vast-profits-global-energy-transition-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344902/china-poised-earn-vast-profits-global-energy-transition-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 08:00:09 +0000 Quentin Parker Quentin Parker Hong Kong sees itself as a modern, well-governed, global city that moves with the times. On finance, education, legal services and logistics, that self-image holds. But when considering the green transition, particularly transport electrification, the gap between rhetoric and reality is increasingly hard to ignore. Nowhere is this more evident than in electrifying the taxi fleet, where the quarter-century timeline floated bears little resemblance to what is standard practice in neighbouring... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344649/high-price-hong-kongs-slow-switch-electric-buses-and-taxis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344649/high-price-hong-kongs-slow-switch-electric-buses-and-taxis?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Reuters Reuters Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push to accelerate the roll-out of rooftop solar power is falling short of targets despite heavy subsidies due to loan delays and limited support from state utilities, vendors and analysts say. The shortfalls represent the latest challenge to India’s efforts to nearly double clean energy capacity to 500 gigawatts by 2030, and come as the government plans to suspend clean energy tendering targets amid a mounting backlog of awarded projects yet to be... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3343665/indias-solar-power-push-misses-targets-red-tape-loan-refusals-hamper-transition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3343665/indias-solar-power-push-misses-targets-red-tape-loan-refusals-hamper-transition?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 01:48:09 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Beijing has issued a central directive to dismantle the administrative walls dividing China’s electricity sector, signalling a decisive shift towards a unified national power market designed to support the country’s energy security and green transition. A decade into its power-sector overhaul, China is doubling down on market unity during the just-started 15th five-year planning period. These structural shifts are widely seen as indispensable to the nation’s 2030 carbon-peak target, as the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343329/china-dismantle-local-power-protectionism-push-electrify-national-grid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343329/china-dismantle-local-power-protectionism-push-electrify-national-grid?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:30:14 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China has achieved a breakthrough in its decarbonisation efforts by successfully repurposing a long-haul oil pipeline to transport carbon dioxide, in a trial run that offers a potentially scalable solution to accelerate the nation’s ambitious climate goals. The 27km (16.8-mile) route delivered carbon dioxide to an oilfield in central China’s Henan province earlier this month, according to China Oil and Gas Pipeline Network Corporation, also known as PipeChina. In an online statement, the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343072/china-turns-old-oil-pipeline-new-carbon-highway-green-cost-cutting-gambit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343072/china-turns-old-oil-pipeline-new-carbon-highway-green-cost-cutting-gambit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 02:00:11 +0000 Luca Mattei Luca Mattei Energy security is once again at the very heart of the global geopolitical arena. In an era defined by conflict, sanctions and increasingly precarious maritime routes, Beijing has internalised a fundamental truth: in an unstable world, resilience trumps ideology. Recent disruptions to global shipping corridors and tightening sanction regimes have reinforced this shift, pushing major economies to reassess their exposure to external supply shocks. While much of the West remains locked in a debate... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3342723/chinas-pragmatic-energy-security-vision-fossil-fuels-remain-vital?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3342723/chinas-pragmatic-energy-security-vision-fossil-fuels-remain-vital?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 12:30:12 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat Clean energy technologies – led by solar power and electric vehicles – drove more than one-third of China’s economic growth last year and over 90 per cent of the rise in investment, according to a new study. China’s clean energy industries generated a record 15.4 trillion yuan (US$2.1 trillion) in economic output in 2025, equivalent to 11.4 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product, the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) found. If they were a country, the Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342513/chinas-cleantech-sector-now-worth-us21-trillion-rivals-brazils-gdp-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342513/chinas-cleantech-sector-now-worth-us21-trillion-rivals-brazils-gdp-report?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 09:09:13 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu China has criticised the European Commission’s anti-subsidy probe into Chinese wind turbine maker Goldwind Science & Technology as “targeted” and “discriminatory”, warning that such measures would undermine Chinese companies’ confidence in the European market and disrupt the bloc’s green transition. “The European side’s related investigations have generalised the concept of ‘foreign subsidies’ and have many problems, such as insufficient evidence for opening cases and a lack of procedural... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342444/china-slams-eu-probe-wind-turbine-maker-goldwind-discriminatory?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342444/china-slams-eu-probe-wind-turbine-maker-goldwind-discriminatory?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 02:23:58 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela Tibet’s exploitable solar, wind and hydropower resources alone could theoretically meet all of China’s energy needs, government survey data suggests. According to researchers from the China Society for Hydropower Engineering and the state-owned Power Construction Corporation of China, the technically exploitable capacity of hydropower in Tibet could reach 178 gigawatts, and more than 100GW for wind power. They said the development potential of solar power could reach 10,000GW, which is... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3342334/tibets-exploitable-green-power-could-meet-chinas-energy-needs-official-survey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3342334/tibets-exploitable-green-power-could-meet-chinas-energy-needs-official-survey?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 07:02:04 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang A profound energy transformation is reshaping Shanxi, China’s traditional coal heartland, where renewable power capacity has officially surpassed coal-fired generation, marking a historic turning point for one of the nation’s most carbon-intensive economies. The central province’s installed capacity for new energy surged to 90.48 million kilowatts in 2025 – a year-on-year increase of 18.29 million kW – vaulting renewables past the halfway point to claim 55.1 per cent of Shanxi’s total... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342241/shanxis-green-leap-renewables-surpass-coal-chinas-energy-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342241/shanxis-green-leap-renewables-surpass-coal-chinas-energy-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:03:11 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik Chinese scientists have developed a hydrogel cooling coating for solar panels to boost power output by 13 per cent compared to conventional photovoltaic systems. The transparent layer can reduce the temperature of “hotspots” – overheated areas on solar cells caused by defects, shading from leaves, bird droppings or dirt – by 16 degrees Celsius (nearly 30 Fahrenheit). Hotspots are a common cause of solar panel failure and fire risk. “On a global scale, our developed cooling strategy can offset... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3341723/chinese-teams-hydrogel-coating-boosts-solar-panel-power-output-13-ideal-hot-regions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3341723/chinese-teams-hydrogel-coating-boosts-solar-panel-power-output-13-ideal-hot-regions?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 04:00:12 +0000 Ying Xu,Weishi Zhang Ying Xu,Weishi Zhang In the global shift towards carbon neutral mobility, a striking role reversal is taking shape. China, often seen as a top-down planner, has emerged as a pragmatic, market-responsive architect of new energy vehicle (NEV) policy. Europe, a champion of climate ambition, is seemingly executing a retreat amid a disconnect between ambition and reality. The planned dilution of the European Union’s ban on new combustion-engine cars by 2035 to a carbon dioxide output reduction target of 90 per cent is... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3341418/ev-targets-europe-should-take-page-chinas-playbook?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3341418/ev-targets-europe-should-take-page-chinas-playbook?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 08:30:07 +0000 Jiang Jiani Jiang Jiani At Davos this year, a familiar but sobering warning echoed through the slopes: the global order is fracturing into closed loops. In Western capitals, “de-risking” remains the dominant keyword, framing the global economy as a series of strategic high walls. Yet, beyond these barriers, a more tangible crisis is unfolding across the Global South. The infrastructure deficit continues to widen, estimated at a staggering US$1.7 trillion annually for Asia alone. This is a crisis of global governance.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3341126/china-grows-it-reshaping-how-global-public-goods-are-delivered?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3341126/china-grows-it-reshaping-how-global-public-goods-are-delivered?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:30:08 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof When Hong Kong-based EcoCeres opened Malaysia’s first commercial-scale sustainable aviation fuel plant in Johor on Monday, officials pitched it as a new export segment positioned for strong growth, backed by the country’s ports, processing capacity and palm-adjacent supply chains. The problem is that the largest buyers are still not in Asia, EcoCeres says. “The major part of the demand is in Europe,” EcoCeres CEO Matti Lievonen told reporters at a press conference, adding that “absolutely much... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3341370/malaysia-aims-be-sustainable-aviation-fuel-hub-what-about-low-asian-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3341370/malaysia-aims-be-sustainable-aviation-fuel-hub-what-about-low-asian-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 06:57:39 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li China has kicked off construction on the southern section of the Tibet-Guangdong ultra-high-voltage power transmission line, an ambitious scheme to channel vast amounts of green energy generated high in the mountains of western China to factory hubs along the country’s south coast. The project – which will shoot the equivalent of half the electricity produced by the Three Gorges Dam across China each year – comes as Beijing strives to push forward with its carbon-reduction plans and keep up with... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3340872/chinas-massive-project-funnel-clean-energy-tibet-enters-new-phase?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3340872/chinas-massive-project-funnel-clean-energy-tibet-enters-new-phase?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 11:29:32 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu China’s pursuit of commercial nuclear fusion technology has intensified this year, fuelled by a fresh round of financing for start-ups and state-backed initiatives. Startorus Fusion last week raised 1 billion yuan (US$143 million) from its series A round, a record for a single financing round by a private nuclear fusion company on the mainland, according to a report by the Securities Times. The deal, announced on January 12, was led by state-owned funds in Shanghai, which contributed around 400... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3340430/chinas-nuclear-fusion-start-ups-power-record-funding-round?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3340430/chinas-nuclear-fusion-start-ups-power-record-funding-round?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 02:00:09 +0000 Roberto Bocca Roberto Bocca For much of the past decade, the energy transition debate has largely revolved around one question: can clean technologies work at scale? That is increasingly being answered. Solar panels, wind turbines, batteries and electric vehicles (EVs) have moved into the mainstream as key technologies become more cost-effective, efficient and faster to deploy. In many markets, these energy sources are no longer the future of energy; they are the present. The challenge is no longer simply proving that more... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3340218/energy-transitions-next-big-challenge-systems-integration?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3340218/energy-transitions-next-big-challenge-systems-integration?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jan 2026 08:30:10 +0000 Christine Loh Christine Loh Net-zero commitments are now commonplace across Hong Kong’s property sector. Many major developers have announced targets for 2030 and 2050, often framed around energy efficiency, renewable energy and greener buildings. This is welcome. However, as climate ambition becomes the norm, a more uncomfortable question comes into focus: how many of these commitments are grounded in a serious understanding of what decarbonisation actually entails? What remains largely missing from Hong Kong’s climate... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3339817/hong-kong-needs-ask-hard-questions-about-its-net-zero-challenge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3339817/hong-kong-needs-ask-hard-questions-about-its-net-zero-challenge?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat China’s efforts to rein in cutthroat price wars in the solar industry have had the unintended result of creating risks of alleged price rigging, highlighting what analysts describe as an “uneasy balance” between the government’s anti-involution campaign and anti-monopoly policies. The photovoltaic industry has been among the hardest hit by vicious price wars – known as involution, or neijuan-style competition – that have affected several sectors in China in recent years, squeezing companies’... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339572/chinas-solar-firms-once-deemed-too-competitive-now-face-monopoly-accusations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339572/chinas-solar-firms-once-deemed-too-competitive-now-face-monopoly-accusations?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 08:00:10 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu China will cut export subsidies for solar panels and batteries in the coming months, a move mainly aimed at curbing domestic overcompetition and consolidating two sectors where China is dominant, said analysts who also expect it will help ease trade tensions with Europe. Authorities will cancel export value-added tax rebates for solar panels and lower rebates for batteries from 9 per cent to 6 per cent from April 1. The rebates for batteries will be cancelled on January 1, 2027, according to the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339430/goodwill-or-necessity-why-china-slashing-solar-and-battery-subsidies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339430/goodwill-or-necessity-why-china-slashing-solar-and-battery-subsidies?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Jan 2026 09:13:00 +0000