China Still Lagging Way Behind The UK On Renewable Energy

By Paul Homewood

h/t Ian Magness

Today’s misinformation from the Guardian:

The amount of wind and solar power under construction in China is now nearly twice as much as the rest of the world combined, a report has found.

Research published on Thursday by Global Energy Monitor (GEM), an NGO, found that China has 180 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale solar power under construction and 159GW of wind power. That brings the total of wind and solar power under construction to 339GW, well ahead of the 40GW under construction in the US.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jul/11/china-building-twice-as-much-wind-and-solar-power-as-rest-of-world-report

The numbers may sound massive, but we need to remember that China uses 30 times the amount of electricity as we do in the UK. (Actually what is very significant is that the figure of 40GW  for the US, a tiny amount which proves how little effect Biden’s subsidies are having there).

At the end of 2023, China already had 1052GW of wind and solar in operation, so an increase to 1200GW will only marginally increase generation. Last year, wind and solar only accounted for 15% of China’s electricity, well below the UK’s 33% – you might not have realised that from the Guardian’s story.

But because rising demand continues to outpace renewable growth in China, the use of coal continues to increase as well.

There is no evidence whatsoever that China has any intention of significantly cutting back on fossil fuels. Nor that they will ever be able to run a grid relaint mainly on renewables, no matter how much the Guardian may wish it.