China’s surge in renewables and whole-economy electrification is rapidly reshaping energy choices for the rest of the world, creating the conditions for a decline in global fossil fuel use.
Thank you for a thorough analysis! I look forward to reading the report.
I was curious to get your take. What was the most compelling finding for you from the research?
For me, it is compelling to see China in this new light as a country pushing for the use of renewables, from being one of the top polluting countries in the world. I remember discussing China's pollution output in environmental science class. Sure, it has not necessarily dropped dramatically, but it is compelling just to see a plateau! Regardless of motivation, it is a demonstration of what is possible with a commitment to renewables, and not having funding swing from fossil fuels to renewables and back again in a four to eight-year cycle. I am not advocating that Canada adopt a new political system, but just highlighting the advantage of not having the swinging pendulum of funding in energy align with political views.
The other finding that really stood out for me was the number of emerging markets that China was exporting to, or in other words, making allies with, if they were not allies already.
Wait. I'm confused. If China's final fossil energy use has been stagnant since the mid 2010s, how have their emissions gone up in the same period? If the carbon intended of the fossil use gone up in that period?
It’s been stagnant in terms of final energy consumption, not primary. Rising electricity demand has been met partly through burning more fossil fuels. This contributes to an increase in primary energy consumption, and carbon emissions, while being counted as ‘electricity’ in final energy consumption stats.
Why did their primary energy demand go up even though their final energy demand remained stagnant? Is it because they used coal powered electricity in residential heating instead of burning the coal directly?
Hey Sam,
Thank you for a thorough analysis! I look forward to reading the report.
I was curious to get your take. What was the most compelling finding for you from the research?
For me, it is compelling to see China in this new light as a country pushing for the use of renewables, from being one of the top polluting countries in the world. I remember discussing China's pollution output in environmental science class. Sure, it has not necessarily dropped dramatically, but it is compelling just to see a plateau! Regardless of motivation, it is a demonstration of what is possible with a commitment to renewables, and not having funding swing from fossil fuels to renewables and back again in a four to eight-year cycle. I am not advocating that Canada adopt a new political system, but just highlighting the advantage of not having the swinging pendulum of funding in energy align with political views.
The other finding that really stood out for me was the number of emerging markets that China was exporting to, or in other words, making allies with, if they were not allies already.
Thank you again, and have an amazing day!
Isn’t China still building new coal plants?
And why no mention of nuclear? Aren’t they building a ton of those too?
Wait. I'm confused. If China's final fossil energy use has been stagnant since the mid 2010s, how have their emissions gone up in the same period? If the carbon intended of the fossil use gone up in that period?
It’s been stagnant in terms of final energy consumption, not primary. Rising electricity demand has been met partly through burning more fossil fuels. This contributes to an increase in primary energy consumption, and carbon emissions, while being counted as ‘electricity’ in final energy consumption stats.
Why did their primary energy demand go up even though their final energy demand remained stagnant? Is it because they used coal powered electricity in residential heating instead of burning the coal directly?