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China’s power crisis

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China’s power crisis
China is used to seeing power supply cuts in parts of the country each year, but their frequency has increased sharply since the second half of 2020, escalating to a crisis in September 2021. Potential causes include Beijing-dictated carbon reduction targets to lower emissions, and an urgent shortage of coal.
China’s advanced grid protection technology enables power grid faults to be isolated and restored within a split second, and also solves the problem of identifying micro-current faults at the hundred milliampere level. Photo: Xinhua
Science

China sends 0.1-second blackout recovery tech to protect grids in 12 nations

Grid protection technology enables faults to be isolated and restored within hundred-millisecond window, compared with hours previously.

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China energy security

China vows to ramp up west-to-east power as AI, hi-tech industries fuel demand

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Artificial intelligence

Power and data centres will put China ahead of US in the AI race, says investor

US-China tech war

Ant Group joins China’s nuclear fusion funding surge as AI fuels energy demand

Ant Group’s backing of fusion start-up Xeonova underscores the growing flow of capital in China’s experimental energy frontier.

The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) in Hefei, east China’s Anhui Province, this year heralded major breakthroughs in the development of nuclear fusion. Photo: Xinhua
Science

China mulls converting coal-fired power plants to nuclear facilities

Retiring plants could be given a new lease of life and help China reach its decarbonisation goals under a bold proposal.

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China and climate change

Opinion | Why it makes sense for green-tech exporter China to ramp up coal power

A domestic ‘coal cushion’ ensures grid stability so China can keep exporting solar panels, batteries and electric vehicles at scale.

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China energy security

Solar energy milestone: China taps the ocean in breakthrough for industry

The Qingdao-based project is projected to boost offshore power and help cut emissions by 14,000 tonnes annually.

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China’s first factory-scale all-seawater floating photovoltaic project was completed and put into use at Sinopec Qingdao Refining and Chemical on July 1, 2025. Photo: Xinhua
Business of climate change

Cloudy with a chance of bankruptcy: US tariffs hurt China’s solar firms

One-third of China’s 121 listed solar producers are in the red; more than 50 along the supply chain have filed for bankruptcy this year.

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Science

China-led study proposes global green-energy network to solve power crisis

Researchers evaluate global solar-wind potential to develop a phased pathway to a fully coordinated system by the 2050s.

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China energy security

China amps up nuclear ambitions with 10 new reactor approvals

China’s third-generation Hualong One reactors will be among those built in some coastal provinces, and each can meet the energy demands of 1 million people.

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An aerial view of a nuclear power facility in China’s Fujian province earlier this year. The State Council has approved 10 more nuclear reactor projects in the country. Photo: Xinhua
Climate change

Opinion | China must resist greenwashing its dirty coal habit with green bonds

Can China credibly claim climate leadership while doubling down on its dirtiest fuel?

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Vehicles transfer coal at a port in Chongqing, southwestern China on April 20. Photo: AFP
Two Sessions 2025

Why China’s energy supply is ‘secure’ amid Trump’s ‘drill, baby, drill’ push

China has taken necessary steps to ensure ‘we are not dependent on any single nation or route’ for energy needs, top legislature deputy says.

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China energy security

China discovers 2 major shale oilfields in boost for energy security

Beijing has launched a drive to uncover new domestic fossil fuel reserves as it seeks to reduce its dependence on imports.

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Science

China plans to build ‘Three Gorges dam in space’ to harness solar power

Chinese rocket scientist reveals blueprint for ‘incredible project’ to build solar power station in space using super heavy rockets.

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A Long March-5 rocket is seen at the Wenchang Space Launch Centre in southern China. The much larger Long March-9, a reusable heavy-lift rocket, will be used to realise plans for the solar power station in space. Photo: Xinhua via AP
China energy security

China’s nuclear power ambitions at core of energy security amid safety concerns

Now the world’s biggest market for nuclear power, China has more than 100 reactors in use or being built along the nation’s coastline.

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With a combined installed capacity of 113 million kilowatts, China currently has 102 reactors in use or being built. Image: Shutterstock
China energy security

Chinese power group planning to build green energy island

The project off the coast of Guangdong is ranked among the country’s top 10 engineering challenges.

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China energy security

China takes aim at energy replacement with industry-spanning plan for renewables

More energy must come from renewable sources, but transition from fossil fuels will be orderly, top economic planner says.

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Science

How China’s industrial supply chain may help give rise to the ‘artificial sun’

Could a recent breakthrough in nuclear fusion be the start of a new global race to dominate the ‘holy grail’ of clean energy?

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
Renewable energy

China seeks solutions for renewable energy conundrum

Green energy has been a boon to China’s manufacturing sector and a boost to its climate credentials, but the bounty has exposed the shortcomings of the power grid and become a target for trade tariffs.

China energy security

Beijing urged to quell ‘fluctuations and volatility’ stifling renewable energy

Power capacity and infrastructure are vital to China’s green transition and hi-tech ambitions, but ‘power abandonment’ is a critical setback.

Environment

No global climate targets without China: German minister calls to give up coal

China is expanding coal production for security reasons, Robert Habeck says after talks with Chinese officials in Beijing.

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Robert Habeck says extension of the power grid and use of batteries to store energy could reduce the number of traditionally fuelled power plants needed to meet China’s needs. Photo: dpa
China energy security

China targets wasted production, taking aim at pollution and overcapacity

Four industrial sectors have been singled out – steel, petrochemicals, non-ferrous metals, and building materials – with new capacity strictly prohibited or restricted in certain subsectors.

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Beijing’s new plan puts added emphasis on curbing pollution, reducing coal consumption and improving the consumption capacity of renewable energy. Photo: AP
US-China relations

Editorial | China seeks right mix for energy-intensive economy it yearns

Legislation finally being reviewed by Beijing not only addresses power generation and climate change, but also security and self-reliance amid rivalry with West.

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China energy security

China’s draft energy law finally sees the light after 18 years in the making

The country’s top legislature will review the proposed framework designed to secure supplies and encourage the shift to low-carbon power.

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China energy security

China’s new oil rig in South China Sea helps it drill deep for energy security

New deep-sea mobile operation can reportedly drill to a depth of 9,085 metres, a record for China as Beijing looks to rely less on imported oil and gas amid rising geopolitical uncertainties.

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China’s new oil rig, the Enping 21-4 A1H wellhead platform, can produce 700 tonnes of oil per day, according to state media. Photo: CCTV
China economy

China’s looks to stop ripple effect as southwest struggles with drought

A drought in China’s southwest has stoked fears the dry period could have severe knock-on effects, with agriculture, hydroelectric power and aluminium production all facing potential shortfalls.

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Drought conditions in China’s southwest could affect power production as well as agriculture. Photo: Reuters
Business of climate change

China will miss its climate goals unless it reins in coal power: report

China is at risk of missing its climate targets and suffering major economic losses unless it takes decisive actions to put a halt to runaway coal power plant expansion and reform outdated power grid management, says Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

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China energy security

China coal reserves found lacking after past crises hit industries, livelihoods

A new national backup system for coal production will seek to stabilise prices and ensure sufficient supplies as energy security is increasingly prioritised across the country.

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