China’s 2020 Targets

By Paul Homewood 

 

 

In my earlier post, I meant to add a footnote.

 

Andrew Follett refers to :

 

Despite the freeze on new wind-farms, the Chinese government still plans to get 15 percent of the country’s electricity from green energy by 2020.

 

In fact, renewable energy already contributes 24% of China’s electricity, mostly hydro which provides 19%.

What I think he really means is what the Chinese have stated in their INDC:

 

China announced internationally that by 2020 it will lower carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 40% to 45% from the 2005 level, increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to about 15%.

It is therefore useful to compare where they are at currently. Last year, non fossil fuels accounted for 12% of primary energy consumption, Again, hydro was responsible for the bulk of this with over 8%.

Wind and solar only supply 1.7%, so it seems unlikely, given the problems identified, that they will make much of a contribution in hitting the target.