Mar 6, 2025
China is planning renewable energy initiatives to achieve carbon neutrality by the year 2060.
China has unveiled plans to establish major renewable energy projects as part of its strategy to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2060.
The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of the country has outlined plans for the creation of offshore wind farms and new energy hubs in desert regions, as reported by Reuters.
The NDRC report brings attention to a controversial hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, which has raised concerns in India regarding its effects on downstream water flow.
Additionally, there is a proposal for a direct power transmission line linking Tibet with Hong Kong, Macao, and Guangdong.
Despite these renewable energy initiatives, coal continues to be a major energy source.
The NDRC intends to boost coal production while trialing low-carbon technologies at coal-fired power stations and advancing initiatives for renewable energy substitution.
The commission has reported a 3.4% decrease in carbon emissions per unit of economic growth for 2024, which is below expectations due to rising energy consumption and severe weather conditions.
China is not expected to achieve its five-year target of an 18% reduction in carbon intensity by the end of 2025.
Yao Zhe, a global policy advisor for Greenpeace, commented: "Even with the unprecedented expansion of renewables, an inconvenient truth is that China’s economy has not become significantly more energy efficient in recent years."
In 2024, China’s investments in clean energy reached 6.8 trillion yuan ($940 billion), approaching the $1.12 trillion global investment level in fossil fuels, as noted by Carbon Brief.
Despite a slowdown in growth from 40% in 2023 to 7% in 2024, China’s clean energy sector remains robust, fueled by the electric vehicles, batteries, and solar power industries.
According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air for Carbon Brief, the clean energy sector’s contribution to China’s GDP increased to 10% in 2024, up from 9% in 2023.
The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of the country has outlined plans for the creation of offshore wind farms and new energy hubs in desert regions, as reported by Reuters.
The NDRC report brings attention to a controversial hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, which has raised concerns in India regarding its effects on downstream water flow.
Additionally, there is a proposal for a direct power transmission line linking Tibet with Hong Kong, Macao, and Guangdong.
Despite these renewable energy initiatives, coal continues to be a major energy source.
The NDRC intends to boost coal production while trialing low-carbon technologies at coal-fired power stations and advancing initiatives for renewable energy substitution.
The commission has reported a 3.4% decrease in carbon emissions per unit of economic growth for 2024, which is below expectations due to rising energy consumption and severe weather conditions.
China is not expected to achieve its five-year target of an 18% reduction in carbon intensity by the end of 2025.
Yao Zhe, a global policy advisor for Greenpeace, commented: "Even with the unprecedented expansion of renewables, an inconvenient truth is that China’s economy has not become significantly more energy efficient in recent years."
In 2024, China’s investments in clean energy reached 6.8 trillion yuan ($940 billion), approaching the $1.12 trillion global investment level in fossil fuels, as noted by Carbon Brief.
Despite a slowdown in growth from 40% in 2023 to 7% in 2024, China’s clean energy sector remains robust, fueled by the electric vehicles, batteries, and solar power industries.
According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air for Carbon Brief, the clean energy sector’s contribution to China’s GDP increased to 10% in 2024, up from 9% in 2023.