China deepens its dependence on coal by speeding up approvals
China has been speeding up approvals for new coal-fired power plants amid increasing risks of electricity shortages, according to research from Greenpeace.
Adding generation capacity for its mainstay fuel has been a tried-and-true strategy for China during its rapid economic rise over the past three decades. The pace of new approvals quickened in late 2021 and early this year after power shortages crippled the economy in the fall.
But China’s power problems have nothing to do with not having enough generation -- in fact there’s already an overcapacity of coal power plants, according to Greenpeace analyst Wu Jinghan. To solve the problem, the government needs to focus on things like grid integration and energy storage. A continued emphasis on new coal plants will only distract from the real solutions, Wu said.
Greenpeace’s research shows that 8.63 GW of coal-fired capacity was approved in the first quarter of 2022, equivalent to 47% of the new permits awarded over the whole of 2021.
The scorching summer heat is further exposing China’s over-reliance on coal, as air-conditioning needs run down supplies of the fuel that’s most to blame for a warming planet. Elevated prices are also hurting the profitability of utilities due to the significant increases in procurement costs, according to a report in the Economic Daily.
“An overcapacity of this one energy source is a major hurdle for energy security, as well as China’s energy transition,” said Wu.
Article Enquiry
Email Article
Save Article
Feedback
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
Research Reports
Projects
Latest Multimedia
Latest News
Showroom
Established in 1933, EKATO is the world leader in agitation technology, supplying agitators for processes and applications such as chemicals and...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Developed to exceed the latest EN 15964 standards for police breathalysers proving that it will remain accurate and reliable for many years to come.
VISIT SHOWROOM
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation
