Comment by AuthAuth
11 hours ago
China's energy buildout is still mostly coal. Go look at the last 20 years how much energy they've added for coal vs solar. Dont fall for the "solar has increased by 500%" trap.
11 hours ago
China's energy buildout is still mostly coal. Go look at the last 20 years how much energy they've added for coal vs solar. Dont fall for the "solar has increased by 500%" trap.
You’re absolutely correct.
China didn’t start adding much in the way of solar prior to about 2020, whereas they added lots of coal generation in the past 20 years.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_sector_in_China
They are replacing old coal plants with more efficient cleaner designers. National security wise they still have lots of coal to work with, while most renewable energy is generated in the west where ongoing grid upgrades are needed to use it where people live (in the east).
The newer plants not only more efficient going from 30-35% of peak efficiency to something like 45%, they can also operate efficiently over wider range of power output and are faster to turn on/off.
This is very helpful to deal with variability with renewable output.
Coal consumption has peaked there. Solar is growing explosively.
Dont you think its a bit naive to be saying something peaked when it hasnt even been a year?
The economics are pretty strikingly in favour of renewables and batteries, and one thing China does not have is cheap natural gas.
Yes and:
Recent Volts episode has great overview of China's electro-tech build out, world is at or near peak fossil fuel across all sectors and countries (with 1 notable exception), etc.
Clean electrification is inevitable - A conversation with Kingsmill Bond of Ember Energy. [2025/11/21]
https://www.volts.wtf/p/clean-electrification-is-inevitable