China coal-fired power capacity still rising, bucking global trend
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
China coal-fired power capacity still rising, bucking global trend

Environment

Reuters
20 November, 2019, 12:30 pm
Last modified: 20 November, 2019, 12:36 pm

Related News

  • Biden's Asian economic talks include 13 countries, and no China
  • Biden says weighs reducing tariffs on China, asking OPEC to pump more oil
  • New Australian govt looks to SE Asia as it deals with 'difficult' China relationship
  • Biden, on inaugural Asia visit, says he would be willing to use force to defend Taiwan
  • Beijing urges millions to keep working from home amid Covid outbreak menace

China coal-fired power capacity still rising, bucking global trend

China’s total coal-fired power capacity stands at more than 1,000 GW. Global Energy Monitor said it needed to close more than 40% of that to meet greenhouse gas reductions required to keep global temperature rises well below 2 degrees Celsius

Reuters
20 November, 2019, 12:30 pm
Last modified: 20 November, 2019, 12:36 pm
Photo: Reuters
Photo: Reuters

China raised its coal-fired power capacity by 42.9 gigawatts (GW), or about 4.5%, in the 18 months to June, connecting new projects to the grid at a time when capacity in the rest of the world shrank, according to a study published on Wednesday.

China also has another 121.3 GW of coal-fired power plants under construction, US-based research network Global Energy Monitor said in its report, nearly enough to power the whole of France.

The increase followed a 2014-2016 "permitting surge" by local governments aiming to boost growth while formerly suspended projects have also been restarted, Global Energy Monitor said. In the rest of the world, coal-fired power capacity fell 8.1 GW over the same period.

To cut pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, China has promised an "energy revolution" aimed at dramatically reducing its reliance on coal. It cut coal's share of the country's total energy from 68% in 2012 to 59% last year, and researchers predict it will fall to 55.3% by 2020.

Absolute coal consumption, however, has continued to increase in line with a rise in overall Chinese energy demand.

And environmental groups have accused Beijing of relaxing its efforts on coal, pointing to remarks in October by Premier Li Keqiang, who urged China to make greater use of its coal "endowment" by building clean power plants.

China approved new 40 coal mines in the first three quarters of 2019, and it has continued to make use of "green" financing to support coal-related projects.

China's total coal-fired power capacity stands at more than 1,000 GW. Global Energy Monitor said it needed to close more than 40% of that to meet greenhouse gas reductions required to keep global temperature rises well below 2 degrees Celsius.

It urged the government to strengthen policies discouraging coal plants, support low-carbon power and move toward clean energy, while an investor body warned of the risk of building new coal-fired plants.

"Over 40% of China's existing coal fleet is already estimated to be loss making," said Stephanie Pfeifer, chief executive of the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change.

Though costs are now as low as fossil fuels, some Chinese policymakers worry renewables like wind and solar are unreliable, and there are concerns that decarbonisation will hurt the country's coal regions.

Some also believe that future energy shortages could hurt China's attempts to address its slowing economy, said Yang Fuqiang, senior advisor with the Natural Resources Defense Council, a US environment group.

"Right now there is a big argument about whether China needs more coal-fired power or not," he told Reuters. "They think the fourteenth five-year plan (2021-2025) will stimulate economic development and they are a little afraid there won't be enough electricity to support the economy."

Top News

china / coal power plant

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Corporates go cashless…tax cut on cards
    Corporates go cashless…tax cut on cards
  • Rising revenue collection a false dawn, economists say
    Rising revenue collection a false dawn, economists say
  • Why we must resist geoeconomic fragmentation—and how
    Why we must resist geoeconomic fragmentation—and how

MOST VIEWED

  • Environment protection laws are not enforced properly: Experts
    Environment protection laws are not enforced properly: Experts
  • Once a raging river and source of livelihood for hundreds of people in the Noagaon city, the River Tulshiganga is dead at present. The photo was taken from Adam Durgapur village recently. Photo: TBS
    Tulsiganga: The demise of a river
  • President Hamid urges global efforts to combat climate change
    President Hamid urges global efforts to combat climate change
  • FILE PHOTO: A bleaching coral is seen in the place where abandoned fishing nets covered it in a reef at the protected area of Ko Losin, Thailand
    Oceans are hotter, higher and more acidic, climate report warns
  • Smoke rises from the Duvha coal-based power station owned by state power utility Eskom, in Mpumalanga province, South Africa, 18 February, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings
    Pollution killing 9 million people a year, Africa hardest hit: Study
  • Picture: Mohammad Minhaz Uddin/TBS
    Chattogram heading for carbon catastrophe: Report

Related News

  • Biden's Asian economic talks include 13 countries, and no China
  • Biden says weighs reducing tariffs on China, asking OPEC to pump more oil
  • New Australian govt looks to SE Asia as it deals with 'difficult' China relationship
  • Biden, on inaugural Asia visit, says he would be willing to use force to defend Taiwan
  • Beijing urges millions to keep working from home amid Covid outbreak menace

Features

Musk is denying the sexual harassment allegation that surfaced this week. Photo: Bloomberg

Elon Musk’s crazily banal week 

16h | Panorama
Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED: A touch of brilliance to your life

Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED: A touch of brilliance to your life

20h | Brands
Keep your phone by your side with this armband

Keep your phone by your side with this armband

17h | Brands
Are Focallure gel masks worth the hype?

Are Focallure gel masks worth the hype?

18h | Brands

More Videos from TBS

Why are Duranta TV shows popular?

Why are Duranta TV shows popular?

12h | Videos
Donbas is hell, says Zelenskiy

Donbas is hell, says Zelenskiy

13h | Videos
Threat of Monkeypox on the horizon

Threat of Monkeypox on the horizon

14h | Videos
Mosque of Mughal period in Gazipur

Mosque of Mughal period in Gazipur

14h | Videos

Most Read

1
Tk100 for bike, Tk2,400 for bus to cross Padma Bridge
Bangladesh

Tk100 for bike, Tk2,400 for bus to cross Padma Bridge

2
A packet of US five-dollar bills is inspected at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington March 26, 2015. REUTERS/Gary Cameron
Banking

Dollar hits Tk100 mark in open market

3
Bangladesh at risk of losing ownership of Banglar Samriddhi
Bangladesh

Bangladesh at risk of losing ownership of Banglar Samriddhi

4
PK Halder: How a scamster rose from humble beginnings to a Tk11,000cr empire
Crime

PK Halder: How a scamster rose from humble beginnings to a Tk11,000cr empire

5
BSEC launches probe against Abul Khayer Hero and allies
Stocks

BSEC launches probe against Abul Khayer Hero and allies

6
The reception is a volumetric box-shaped room that has two glass walls on both the front and back ends and the other two walls are adorned with interior plants, wood and aluminium screens. Photo: Noor-A-Alam
Habitat

The United House: Living and working inside nature

The Business Standard
Top
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • About Us
  • Bangladesh
  • International
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Economy
  • Sitemap
  • RSS

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net

Copyright © 2022 THE BUSINESS STANDARD All rights reserved. Technical Partner: RSI Lab