Beijing – A survey of 89 experts on China’s energy transition by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) found most experts surveyed believed that China is on track to peak greenhouse gas emissions before 2030, and the percentage who thought China was on track for an early peak crew, compared to a similar survey last year.
Greenpeace East Asia Beijing-based project lead Gao Yuhe said:
“To predict whether China’s power sector can peak early, look at the fundamental question of whether renewable energy in China can meet increasing power demand. If yes, then China will peak early. Ultimately, China should aim for at least 2,400 GW of wind and solar by 2030 to triple renewable energy capacity. But today even as China’s rapid growth of wind and solar capacity shows great potential to meet electricity demand, we still lack key measures to enable the actual application of renewable energy in China’s energy system. China needs not only to accelerate its renewable energy capacity but more importantly to increase renewable energy consumption and generation in the power sector.
“China must create a more flexible power system with a more effective market and policy mechanism to fully unleash the potential of renewable energy. Only then can renewable energy truly become the backbone of China’s energy system and trigger an early peak as coal goes out of use. At present, we have more capacity to generate from renewable energy, but we haven’t changed a power system that for years has prioritized coal and still does to this day.
ENDS
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August Rick, Greenpeace East Asia, Beijing, ([email protected]), +86 175 1040 4599