China has announced plans to develop significant renewable energy projects as part of its strategy to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
The country’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) outlined initiatives for the development of offshore wind farms and new energy bases in desert areas, as reported by Reuters.
The NDRC report highlights a controversial hydropower facility on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, raising concerns in India about downstream water flow impacts.
A direct power transmission route connecting Tibet with Hong Kong, Macao and Guangdong is also proposed.
Despite these renewable initiatives, coal remains a key energy source.
The NDRC plans to increase coal production while trialling low-carbon technology at coal-fired plants and promoting renewable substitution initiatives.
The commission reported a 3.4% reduction in carbon emissions per economic growth unit in 2024, falling short of expectations due to increased energy consumption and extreme weather.
China is unlikely to meet its five-year goal of an 18% carbon intensity reduction by the end of 2025.
Greenpeace global policy advisor Yao Zhe stated: “Despite the world record expansion of renewables, an inconvenient truth is that China’s economy hasn’t become much more energy efficient in recent years.”
In 2024, China’s clean energy investments reached 6.8tn yuan ($940bn), nearing the $1.12tn global fossil fuel investment scale, according to Carbon Brief.
Despite a growth slowdown from 40% in 2023 to 7% in 2024, China’s clean energy sector remains significant, driven by electric vehicles, batteries and solar industries.
According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air for Carbon Brief, the sector’s share of China’s GDP rose to 10% in 2024, up from 9% in 2023.
