Coal plateaus in China amid electrification surge
Coal generation has stopped growing in 17 out of 26 Chinese provinces and regions.
Fossil fuels in China are reaching a plateau as the country shifts towards renewable energy sources, according to a new report by energy think tank Ember. Coal generation has stopped growing in 17 of the 26 provinces and regions, with fossil fuel usage peaking in eight of 11 industrial sectors. This decline is not indicative of deindustrialization, but rather a result of increased electrification, particularly in more energy-intensive sectors of the economy.
Ember analysts explain that China is now undergoing a phase of "building while breaking," tearing down old energy systems while simultaneously constructing new ones. This shift in energy demand is also weakening the assumption behind global investments in fossil fuels, as it shows that demand is not continually rising. For economies whose budgets and development plans depend on fossil fuel exports, the president of the International Society of Energy Transition Studies, Eugenia Perozo, warns that "the time to plan [...] is now, while the revenues are still there."
Written by urgent.news from Semafor's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
