China Growth
Renewable energy enthusiasts are often in awe of China's growth as an example of the West’s energy future. Surely, China is at the verge of phasing out coal and it will soon be a net-zero renewable utopia.
While EVs in China have certainly moved tailpipe emissions away from cities, China's energy growth has mostly been powered by the expansion of reliable primary energy sources.
China currently uses about 150 ExaJoules (EJ) per year. That is about a quarter of all energy used in the world. In 2022, 61% of that came from coal while only 4.1% came from solar and wind.
Primary energy consumption in China expanded by about 25 EJ over the last 5 years. More than half of that growth came from coal, and about 78% came from fossil fuels. Renewables contributed, but not to a point that warrants the use of the word “transition”.
Some western admiration for China is for its top-down society. Wouldn’t it be better if we gave all power to a benevolent elite who chooses the best (net-zero) for us all?
It appears, though, that while China pushes solar and wind components upon the West to service our “green” addiction, for their internal needs they prefer the addition of reliable, abundant and cheap energy.
Maybe that’s what the West should learn from China?
#energy #china #coal #oilgas #energytransition #greenenergy
