https://www.scmp.com/rss/525135/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu China has released new guidelines to reduce carbon emissions across strategic sectors – including energy-intensive data centres – as Beijing pushes to secure its 2030 climate targets amid volatile energy prices triggered by the US-Israeli war in Iran. The 18-point document, issued by the ruling Communist Party’s powerful Central Committee and the State Council, China’s cabinet, called on heavy industries – including steel, non-ferrous metals and chemicals – to boost energy efficiency and... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351131/china-targets-greener-ai-data-centres-heavy-industry-push-meet-2030-climate-goals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351131/china-targets-greener-ai-data-centres-heavy-industry-push-meet-2030-climate-goals?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen Beijing is putting its power strategy under the microscope as China navigates the impact of a shipping crisis in the Strait of Hormuz that risks becoming a long-term economic liability. Calling energy security a pillar of national stability, Premier Li Qiang on Monday convened a high-level study session of the State Council, China’s Cabinet, according to Xinhua. The meeting, focused on coordinating energy security and the sector’s transformation, was the latest in a series of policy discussions... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350896/china-confronts-middle-east-supply-shock-state-council-mulls-energy-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350896/china-confronts-middle-east-supply-shock-state-council-mulls-energy-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:00:14 +0000 Dannie Peng Dannie Peng Industry estimates suggest that heavy-duty cargo traffic in China is on track to become nearly 100 per cent electric, a transition that could halve the country’s road transport oil consumption. Speaking at a forum on intelligent electric vehicle development in Beijing on April 11, Liang Linhe, chairman of Sany Truck – a subsidiary of the Changsha-headquartered multinational Sany Group – said China’s heavy truck sector could eventually be almost entirely electrified, although he did not put a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3350463/chinese-trucks-could-go-100-electric-halving-road-transport-oil-use-industry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3350463/chinese-trucks-could-go-100-electric-halving-road-transport-oil-use-industry?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:00:10 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China’s green energy transition is expanding from a domestic security priority into a potent geopolitical asset at a time of heightened global uncertainty, according to the latest official reading of the country’s 15th five-year plan. That shift has been tested in recent weeks by the US-Israeli war in Iran and Tehran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz – a chokepoint for 20 per cent of global oil and gas supplies. While Tehran signalled it would reopen the strait on Tuesday under a... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3349646/why-chinas-green-energy-strategy-may-shield-it-iran-war-oil-shock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3349646/why-chinas-green-energy-strategy-may-shield-it-iran-war-oil-shock?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:00:09 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Global efforts to diversify energy sources are set to accelerate as the US-Israel conflict with Iran inflicts an unprecedented disruption on global supplies, analysts said, even as Washington and Tehran reportedly negotiate a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. While the two sides have agreed to a two-week ceasefire, they remain at odds over details of reopening the strategic waterway. Despite the promised pause in hostilities, the conflict has already dealt a massive blow to international energy... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3349391/global-pivot-renewables-seen-accelerating-hormuz-uncertainty-upends-energy-security?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3349391/global-pivot-renewables-seen-accelerating-hormuz-uncertainty-upends-energy-security?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 02:00:11 +0000 Yujie Xue Yujie Xue China’s abundant renewable power and government support could bring a once prohibitively expensive green energy solution into the mainstream – hydrogen. Extensive access to low-cost solar and wind power could let the country produce huge quantities of hydrogen in an environmentally friendly and affordable manner. The government is also stoking demand for the zero-emission fuel, potentially creating incentives for investors to put money into the infrastructure needed for production and... https://www.scmp.com/plus/business/climate-and-energy/article/3348964/green-hydrogen-drive-may-help-china-reach-carbon-neutral-goal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/business/climate-and-energy/article/3348964/green-hydrogen-drive-may-help-china-reach-carbon-neutral-goal?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 01:00:19 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat As global supply volatility intensifies, Premier Li Qiang has called for faster development of a “new-type power system” to accelerate the green transition and expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the sector. During a three-day visit to the southwestern province of Sichuan, Li stressed the need to expand green electricity supply and optimise the energy mix to bolster security and support economic growth. He urged market players to explore new grid architectures, improve system-wide... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348764/premier-li-qiang-pushes-ai-powered-next-gen-energy-system-amid-global-shocks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348764/premier-li-qiang-pushes-ai-powered-next-gen-energy-system-amid-global-shocks?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 06:10:42 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu China has vowed to refine its energy strategy and ramp up major engineering projects over the next five years, placing energy security at the heart of its new development blueprint. The National Energy Administration announced on Monday that it would introduce a new development framework this year, together with a series of sector-specific plans, as Beijing enters its latest five-year plan period. “The internal and external environment for building China’s new energy system is undergoing... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344485/chinas-new-energy-strategy-aims-shield-economy-shocks-and-meet-climate-targets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344485/chinas-new-energy-strategy-aims-shield-economy-shocks-and-meet-climate-targets?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:00:08 +0000 Zhang Tong,Dannie Peng Zhang Tong,Dannie Peng Running and cooling the data centres that power computer networks requires a lot of energy and water, and the world needs a lot more of them with the roll-out of artificial intelligence (AI). What if they could be powered and cooled more sustainably – installed deep underwater, placed high in the mountains, or fired into space where solar power is free and limitless? China has done all three, and it’s just getting started. Five years after Microsoft abandoned an experimental underwater data... https://www.scmp.com/plus/tech/tech-trends/article/3343446/sea-and-space-china-makes-ai-data-centres-more-sustainable?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/tech/tech-trends/article/3343446/sea-and-space-china-makes-ai-data-centres-more-sustainable?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 07:25:07 +0000