China approves biggest expansion in new coal power plants since 2015
By Paul Homewood
h/t Philip Bratby
When will Western leaders realise they have been hoodwinked by China?
China approved the construction of another 106 gigawatts of coal-fired power capacity last year, four times higher than a year earlier and the highest since 2015, research shows.
Over the year, 50GW of coal power capacity went into construction across the country – up by more than half compared with the previous year – driven by energy security considerations, the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) and Global Energy Monitor (GEM) said on Monday.
“The speed at which projects progressed through permitting to construction in 2022 was extraordinary, with many projects sprouting up, gaining permits, obtaining financing and breaking ground apparently in a matter of months,” said GEM analyst Flora Champenois.
The amount of new capacity connected to the grid had slowed in recent years after a decline in new approvals over the 2017-2020 period, but it is set to rebound over the next few years, driven by concerns about power shortages.
Many of the newly approved projects were identified as “supporting” baseload capacity designed to ensure the stability of the power grid and minimise blackout risks, the CREA-GEM report said.
However, many were being built in regions that already had a clear capacity surplus, and power supply problems would be better addressed by improving grid reliability and efficiency, the authors said.
China suffered a wave of blackouts in September 2021 as a result of coal supply shortages, cutting off thousands of homes and factories. A long drought last year also saw a dramatic drop in hydropower generation and the rationing of electricity.
Beijing has been trying to rejuvenate its economy after growth and employment were hit badly by stringent zero-Covid measures last year, raising concerns that its low-carbon efforts would be sidelined.
However, renewable power capacity additions have remained at record levels, with solar installations at 87GW in 2022 and expected to rise further in 2023.
The country aims to bring its climate-warming carbon dioxide emissions to a peak by 2030, but it remains unclear what level they will reach.
At the end of 2021, China had 1296 GW of thermal capacity, nearly all of which is coal. In other words, these new projects will add an extra 8%. It is possible that some of the projects not yet put into construction may end up being cancelled, but even 50 GW already started will substantially increase coal power output.
A look at coal power capacity over the years shows just how steady the rise has been:
https://chinaenergyportal.org/en/2021-electricity-other-energy-statistics-preliminary/
I do have to laugh at these “experts” who think they know better than the Chinese themselves!
For instance:
Many of the newly approved projects were identified as “supporting” baseload capacity designed to ensure the stability of the power grid and minimise blackout risks, the CREA-GEM report said.
However, many were being built in regions that already had a clear capacity surplus, and power supply problems would be better addressed by improving grid reliability and efficiency, the authors said.
And then there’s this gem:
Beijing has been trying to rejuvenate its economy after growth and employment were hit badly by stringent zero-Covid measures last year, raising concerns that its low-carbon efforts would be sidelined.
Translation – China would rather have economic growth than reducing emissions and the two things are not compatible.
The Guardian tries to reassure its gullible readers that solar power capacity continues to grow “at record rates”. They say 87 GW was added last year, but as solar only produces at about 12% of its nameplate capacity, the contribution from this additional tranche will be dwarfed by the new coal power coming on stream. In 2021, solar power only produced 4% of China’s electricity, and it is unlikely that this will change much over the next few years.
What is certain is that China is not going to ditch any of its modern coal power plants anytime soon, although obviously older, inefficient ones will gradually be phased out.
In the last ten years, China has added 587 GW to its thermal power base, virtually half of the total. And at the current rate, this figure could double by 2030.
China is committed to coal in the long term, regardless of what gullible western liberals may think.
Comments are closed.
NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT 
I am sure these new plants are super modern efficient design that willl also have less harmful 3missions to the surroundings than the older plants, so they can keep building them on the basis thet are reducing emissions to 5hr atmosphere.
By the way. Other than CCS a non starter, what happens to all the “bad” emissions that are captured?
The most modern ultra-supercritical combustion systems that burn using pure oxygen are approaching the efficiency of LPG turbogenerators.
Note, text says GW but graphs show MW
“However, renewable power capacity additions have remained at record levels, with solar installations at 87GW in 2022 and expected to rise further in 2023”, and yet “Many of the newly approved projects were identified as ‘supporting’ baseload capacity designed to ensure the stability of the power grid and minimise blackout risks, the CREA-GEM report said.”. Does the left hand know what the right hand is doing (or saying) at the Guardian?? They seem very confused!
“When will Western leaders realise they have been hoodwinked by China?”
Never.
There’s none so blind as those who will not see.
Since you are a climate change denier
why are you so obsessed with China building coal-fired power statins?
Have you not heard the phrase “Attacking the person rather than the topic means you have lost the argument”?
The contributors to this website do not deny that the climate changes, only that these changes have nothing to do with carbon dioxide emissions generated by humans. If you have any empirical proof that challenges this position please share it with all of us.
What on earth are you on about?
I am not “obsessed”. I could not give two hoots how many coal plants China builds. I am highlighting the absurdity of our Net Zero agenda, which is based on the assumption that China and the rest of the world will follow suit.
And I don’t deny that climate changes!
What this demonstrates is that western climate policy is nothing more than squeezing a balloon. The west reduces emissions by sending energy intensive work to Asia then leaders pat themselves on the back while blue collar workers end up unemployed distributing goods coming from Asia. China celebrates its industrial dominance and prosperity.
China is on a fast track to become the world’s dominant superpower without ever firing a shot.
I, personally, am a climate denier because so-called man-made climate change is a hoax–it’s called weather. If you want to blame climate of something, turn your eyes to that big, yellow, ball of fusion fire in the sky. Last time I checked it was still called the Sun. The Sun is he only thing driving the climate of our planet. You really should have paid attention in Introductory Physical Science class in school. Climate change is a grift, invented by a failed U.S. presidential candidate who went on to make hundreds of million$ selling “carbon offset credits” to credulous persons such as yourself.
“why are you so obsessed with China building coal-fired power statins?”
We are simply pointing out the sensible attitude of the Chinese towards electricity generation who – unlike you – have not swallowed the AGW hoax.
If there is obsession it is from the likes of you who seem determined to see us all freeze and starve in the dark.
👍👍
I thought China had committed to peak emissions per GDP not peak emissions full stop. The 2021 figures indicate 4% growth which is already below pre-pandemic growth in the economy so they are already there on that metric. Emissions from non-power sources will presumably grow at much the same rate as from electric power. Also the fleet additions and replacements will likely be more efficient than the existing stock assuming a source of decent steam coal.
It is not accurate to suggest that China has “hoodwinked” Western countries. Its intentions have been absolutely clear for more than a decade and, indeed, are the basis for the plans which it has published and submitted as NDCs to UNFCCC. It has always given priority to ensuring that electricity supply grows to meet the requirements of continued economic growth. Given the circumstances described in the article that is exactly what it is does.
If there is any wool being pulled over eyes, it is because Western politicians, civil servants and lobbyists are so desperate to pretend that they have some kind of meaningful agreement that they choose to lower the blindfolds over their own eyes. They prefer to live in their own fantasy world of virtual reality without any or too much actual reality spoiling the view.
Incidentally the point above about replacing older coal capacity with newer more efficient plants is important. The issue is less about reducing carbon emissions and more about reducing other forms of pollution from power plants by moving older plants down the merit order.
So China didn’t to try very hard to ‘hoodwink’ western politicians, doing it out in the open, which says it all really. I think the point about replacing old coal with new coal is more to do with ensuring grid stability, so not replacing reliable with unreliable. This is the error that the west are making.
Amusing to consider that China’s annual expansion of 50 GW/y is bigger than the maximum coal capacity that ever existed in the UK and we have wrecked our economy to reduce by less!
First; anyone who thinks the CCP is replacing older, “dirty” coal plants with new, “cleaner” coal plants is playing with themselves. The CCP could care less about emissions; this has been demonstrated time and again. Second, Xi Jinping is laughing at the west destroying their own economies chasing the chimera of “green energy.” Should we transition from proven, reliable, mature fossil fuel power sources to chase Magic Unicorns? I think not. Next the greenies will try to tell us that President Putin blew up his own Nord Stream pipelines–that one is down to Joe Biden. He bragged about it to the cameras before the invasion of Ukraine. That was one promise Joe kept.
Meanwhile, wind is still much cheaper, if the government could agree to increase subsidy.
“Last year’s subsidy auction was the UK’s biggest to date and secured enough capacity to provide 12mn homes with cheap, low carbon power.”
“But some wind farm developers that secured contracts in last year’s auction have either delayed or are hesitating to take final investment decisions on those projects.”
“This reflects how cost increases of between 20 and 30 per cent over the past 12 months made it more difficult to justify that spending without extra government incentives, said the people involved in the discussions between the industry and ministers.”
https://www.ft.com/content/80dee308-a564-4ee4-b1f2-ab7dbed643cd?s=04
Wind will only work when the subsidy $ is spent on Magic Unicorns. Never skimp on he Magic Unicorns.
Sorry if that FT link is blocked by a paywall. You should be able to access the article by searching “Wind farm developers demand UK tax breaks to offset rising costs” (works for me).
Jordan… So you are really saying that the only way for “Wind” to be cheaper… is by government throwing more and more money away?
Yep ghornerhb, you’ve got it in one!
And India is also ramping up its coal production: in eastern India, the Bhubaneswari mine is a testament to India’s vast coal reserves, among the largest in the world. The mine’s rapid expansion also is vivid evidence that the world’s second-largest consumer of coal is not ready to give it up, despite urgent concerns about the toll its use is taking on the climate. If anything, India’s coal production is accelerating, according to Coal Ministry data The Indian government has set a target of producing 1 billion tons of coal in fiscal 2024, up from 700 million tons produced so far in the current fiscal year. It is urging mining companies to excavate coal as quickly as possible because electricity demand is projected to soar. The Indian government has set a target of producing 1 billion tons of coal in fiscal 2024, up from 700 million tons produced so far in the current fiscal year. It is urging mining companies to excavate coal as quickly as possible because electricity demand is projected to soar. The Indian government has set a target of producing 1 billion tons of coal in fiscal 2024, up from 700 million tons produced so far in the current fiscal year. It is urging mining companies to excavate coal as quickly as possible because electricity demand is projected to soar. From the Washington Post.
It makes a complete mockery of the UK’s obsession with Net Zero.
What toll is coal taking on the climate? The Global Temperature (whatever that is) is less than 900 years ago, there is more ice in the Arctic and vegetation is expanding. The Middle East is noted for arid conditions yet 7,000 years ago it was the centre of civilisation. The Sahara was green and watered then too.
Graeme No. 3,
What you posted is merely part of the climate cycles that science tells us have persisted since the Earth was formed. catweazle666 is correct! You might want to broaden your choices of climate information… unless you are some kind of zealot!
“despite urgent concerns about the toll its use is taking on the climate”
Coal use is not taking any toll on the climate.
Catweazle and Graeme, I was quoting from the Washington Post – it sits in the same camp as our beloved Guardian. For the avoidance of doubt, coal use has no adverse effects on climate.
Sorry about that, P100.
Might I suggest you differentiate quotes by inverted commas – “” – or by italicising?
This avoids misunderstandings!
Common sense makes a mockery of all the Western country’s obsession with Net Zero. This is what comes of allowing a chubby, petulant, pig-tailed, teenage scold dictate your energy policy. The Asian nations are holding their sides cuz they are laughing so hard at the foolish Western “leaders,” all of which are in the pocket of the CCP via Elite Capture. Someone should write a book detailing Elite Capture–oh wait, Peter Schweizer already did “Red Handed.”
Concerning the massive increase in Chinese generation capacity, this is edifying:
Click to access 146996897.pdf
https://ses.jrc.ec.europa.eu/transcontinental-and-global-power-grids
Using this UHVDC transmission line technology:
https://www.power-technology.com/features/chinas-mega-transmission-lines/
Once again, China leads the way–this time in long distance transmission via technology they unquestionably pilfered from the west. This hearkens back to the famous “battle of the currents” in the early twentieth century, between Westinghouse and Edison. This will be fascinating to watch. My only question is, “How do you generate 1.1 mega volts of DC power?” It must start out as AC put through a converter, but that is just a guess.
By using huge stacks of diodes and power transistors the size of dustbin lids, optically triggered over the whole surface of the wafer.
Awesome technology, great until something goes wrong, then it can get pretty spectacular!