China contributes nearly two -thirds of the solar and wind power projects under construction in the world, but still opened many new coal power plants.
Solar cells on the roof of a hospital in Te Nam city, Shandong province. Image: David Fishman
China’s CO2 emissions in 2023 reached 12.6 billion tons, while the total global emissions was 37.4 billion tons, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). This means that this is the country with the highest CO2 emissions, accounting for 1/3 of the global emissions.
However, China is also the most effort to develop renewable energy in the world. According to the report in July 2024 of the US non -governmental organization Global Energy Monitor (GEM), China has a total of 339 GW of new energy capacity being built, including 180 GW of solar power and 159 GW of electricity. The wind, nearly double the rest of the world.
Te Nam city, the dynamic capital of Shandong province, is a clear evidence of China’s conflicting state in the climate crisis. Te Nam has a population of more than 5 million people, adjacent to the Hoang Ha River in the north and Thai Son mountain in the south. The city is continuously built, the solar batteries are constantly growing next to new coal power plants.
China leads to develop clean energy
In the early summer of 2023, a representative of a solar cell installation company was invited by the Government to invite Chen Ying’s family, a 36 -year -old woman living in the west of the Southern City, participating in the quick photovoltaic policy of government. Accordingly, they will be paid to produce electricity on the roof.
Initially, the Ying family was afraid. But after that, they felt the offer was very attractive and some neighbors also accepted. The installation of solar panels only takes a day, they also have no effort or cost. As a result, the Ying family obtained 60 yuan for a battery per year, a total of 3,600 yuan (about 500 USD), a significant secondary income.
Similar programs are taking place across the South in the context of China leading the world in renewable energy development. In July 2024, according to GEM’s report, China is building nearly two -thirds of solar and wind power projects in the world, 8 times the number of projects being implemented in the US. China also completed the installation target of 1,200 GW of solar power and wind power 6 years earlier than the plan was 2030. Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) was only at 480 GW.
The solar power farm in Jiangsu province helps to supply electricity to a aquaculture facility. Image: Geng Yuhe/VCG
Chinese factories are producing most of the world’s solar cells today. Large production volume helps reduce costs, while promoting the installation of extra solar cells to maintain production and employment activities. Enhancing renewable energy development also helps China reduce depending on imported energy sources.
“China has set a solid foundation for the development of new energy and is playing an extremely important role in the process of global energy movement and climate change response,” Chinese President collection Can Binh declared in February 2024.
A decade ago, in March 2014, under the pressure of public indignation on health issues, the Chinese government launched a “fight against pollution”. As a result, according to a study by the University of Chicago in August 24, the country reduced 41% of air pollution in 10 years, helping people to increase 2 years of life expectancy.
China is the most emissions in the world
However, the obsession with energy security in Te Nam and other places in China shows a much “less green” fact. Economic development increases electricity demand, the use of air conditioning also increases as the summer is increasingly hot. For China, charcoal is still an indispensable fuel because it is available at low cost, despite the negative impact on the environment.
China is currently the most coal consumption in the world. The largest contribution to the country’s CO2 emissions because it plays a big role in electricity production. According to IEA, about 50% of CO2 emissions come from the electricity and industry accounting for about 36%, transporting 8% and construction is about 5%.
In 2023, China built a series of thermal power plants with a total capacity of 70 GW, 4 times higher than 2019. The lowest since 2014. According to GEM research, China contributes up to 95% of the new coal power plant capacity.
The bulldozer pushed coal on the conveyor belt at Giang Du Power Plant, Sichuan Province, China, January 28, 2022. Image: Liu Zhongjun/China News Service
These paradoxic construction projects reflect the concerns of local governments about China’s energy structure and challenges when moving energy. The incident of Sichuan province is usually given as an example. This vast mountainous province is located in southwestern China, has the Yangtze river flowing through and leading the hydroelectricity – considered by China as a clean energy. Part of the electricity is even transmitted through the higher voltage line to the population and industrialization areas more in the east under the long -term contract.
However, in the summer of 2022, a historic drought caused the river water level to plummet, while the hot weather made the use of air conditioner rise. When the electricity supply contract with coastal provinces – which is mandatory – continues to be implemented, Sichuan must set strict limitations on electricity with businesses of the province, then cut off electricity with people. People, affecting the economy and makes people angry.
No province wants to face such risks. The infrastructure stimulation measures have also been implemented since 2022 to cope with the economic level, increasing the number of new coal power plants projects approved by the provinces.
Expectations for shifting energy in the future
In May 2024, the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere – measured from Mauna Observatory of the US National Ocean and Ocean Ocean (NOAA) – reached a record high 426.90 ppm. “The CO2 level is not only the highest in millions of years but is also increasing faster than ever,” said Ralph Keeling, director of the CO2 program Scripps.
Climate change brings many disasters globally, indirectly causing floods, droughts and forest fires. Reducing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere can help fight climate change and slow down the Earth’s process. One of the important measures to reduce CO2 emissions is to reduce coal burns to produce electricity, switching to renewable energy.
In the first half of 2024, 59.6% of China’s electricity still originated from coal. This figure shows the challenge of putting photovoltaic into the grid and ensuring stable management. “The amount of coal consumption is still very large because otherwise we will not have enough electricity. But we can imagine that one day, green energy will replace,” Ying shared.
China’s efforts, along with the advancement in nuclear energy and the economic slowdown, will help reduce global coal consumption by 1.7% per year to 2026, according to IEA. The speed of thermal power plant is replaced by solar cells in cities like Te Nam will eventually determine what happens with the global energy movement.