L R AS Published on Tuesday 7 June 2022 - n° 407 - Categories:China
China to double its wind and solar energy capacity by 2025
China to double its wind and solar power capacity by 2025, as well as its coal-fired power stations
China plans to install up to 108 GW of solar power this year, almost doubling its capacity
of the capacity installed last year, according to China's National Energy Administration (NEA). By 2021, 54.9 GW had been installed. The rise in component prices had probably hampered installations, and led to many projects being postponed until 2022.
Currently, around 121 GW of solar projects are underway or awaiting construction, of which 108 GW will be connected to the grid this year. This is significantly higher than the CPIA forecast at the beginning of the year.
In the first four months of the year, the NEA said 16.8 GW of solar power had been connected to the grid, more than double (126.7%) the figure connected in the first four months of 2021.
https://www.pv-tech.org/china-set-to-double-solar-installations-to-108gw-this-year/
PV Tech of 31 May 2022
Editor's note The increase in Chinese domestic demand (for 53 GW) will weigh on global supply. It is to be expected that panel manufacturers will give priority to supplying their domestic market and "neglect" sales abroad. As we enter the peak season for global demand for panels, not only can prices not even stabilise, but a shortage of goods will develop, linked in part to shipping, but also and above all to Chinese domestic demand.
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News published on 02/06/22 13:52
In a document published on Wednesday, the country's central economic planner stated that 33% of the national grid's electricity supply would come from renewable sources by 2025, compared with 29% in 2020.
"By 2025, annual electricity production from renewables will reach around 3.3 trillion kilowatt hours... and wind and solar power production will double," the plan states. The world's biggest polluter had previously estimated that this doubling would take place by 2030 in order to meet its commitments under the Paris climate agreement. This new plan would mean that China would reach this target earlier.
But the plan also calls for renewable energies to cover "50% of the growth in electricity consumption" by 2025, which is lower than previous official estimates. It also provides greater scope for developing coal-fired power. Beijing has increased its reliance on coal-fired power plants in recent months to support its ailing economy, while the war in Ukraine has pushed up global energy prices.
China is the world's largest producer of renewable energy. It has stepped up investment in solar and wind projects to combat indoor pollution, which researchers believe kills several million people every year.
Investment in solar energy almost tripled in the first four months of the year compared with the same period last year, reaching 29 billion yuan (€4 billion), according to data from the National Energy Administration.
But the country still burns half the world's coal each year to fuel its economy.
Last week Premier Li Keqiang said coal was the basis of the country's energy security, and the central bank approved a $15 billion credit to finance coal mining and coal-fired power stations.
© 2022 AFP et ABC Bourse du 02/06/22
Editor's note The doubling of solar installations in China (53 GW) takes part of what would have been exported to the rest of the world. So if there are difficulties in obtaining supplies of panels this year, it will come as no surprise.
