China’s approvals for coal-fired power plants drop sharply

• 2 months ago (2024-08-23)
• David Flin

Asia 884 Coal 292

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A report from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), based in Helsinki, Finland, and the US-based Global Energy Monitor , states that there has been a sharp drop in new coal plant permits in China.

The report states that the figures suggest that China may be pivoting its energy policy towards more renewable development. China approved 10 new coal-fired power plants with a combined capacity of 9 GW in the first half of 2024, representing an 83 per cent drop on the year. The report also found that China has added over 400 GW of wind and solar since 2023, leading to a 7 per cent drop in coal power output between June 2023 and June 2024.

However, China started construction of 41 GW of previously permitted coal plants during the first half of 2024 – nearly as much as was built in all of 2022 – and over 90 per cent of the global total. The report also warns that project completions could still surge in the second half of the year, especially given that the Chinese government is aiming to commission 80 GW of new coal-fired power this year.

China’s economic planning body, the National Development and Reform Commission has declined to comment on the report.