{"id":6608,"date":"2021-05-28T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-28T02:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/eastasia\/?p=6608"},"modified":"2021-05-27T14:50:01","modified_gmt":"2021-05-27T06:50:01","slug":"electricity-consumption-from-chinas-digital-sector-on-track-to-increase","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/eastasia\/press\/6608\/electricity-consumption-from-chinas-digital-sector-on-track-to-increase\/","title":{"rendered":"Electricity consumption from China\u2019s digital sector on track to increase 289% by 2035: Greenpeace"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BEIJING, 28 May 2021 – Electricity consumption from data centers and 5G base stations in China is on track to increase by an estimated 289% between 2020 and 2035, according to a new report<\/a> from Greenpeace East Asia. In 2020, 61% of electricity that powered China\u2019s digital infrastructure came from coal.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cExplosive growth in digital infrastructure does not need to mean growth in emissions. Technology companies have the potential to catalyze real emissions reductions via investment in distributed renewables projects and direct purchase of wind and solar energy, among other strategies. But some of the industry\u2019s biggest players, including Alibaba and GDS, have yet to issue 100% renewable energy or carbon neutrality commitments,\u201d said Greenpeace East Asia climate and energy campaigner Ye Ruiqi.

Carbon emissions from China\u2019s internet industry are projected to continue to rise through 2035, long after China\u2019s targeted 2030 national emissions peak, creating complications for the country\u2019s national carbon neutrality commitments. By 2035, emissions from digital infrastructure in China are forecast to reach 310 million tonnes, more than three times Guangzhou\u2019s total carbon emissions<\/a> in 2019. [1] By contrast, sectors such as steel<\/a>, non-ferrous metal<\/a>, and cement<\/a>, are expected to peak emissions around 2025.<\/p>\n\n

5G is one of the fastest growing sources of internet sector emissions in China. Power consumption from 5G in China is on track to skyrocket 488% by 2035, reaching 297 billion kWh by 2035, roughly equivalent to Sichuan\u2019s total electricity consumption<\/a> in 2020.

<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Sector<\/strong><\/td>Electricity Consumption in 2020<\/strong><\/td>Projected Electricity Consumption in 2035<\/strong><\/td>Increase<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Data Centers<\/strong><\/td>150.7 <\/strong>billion kWh<\/td>485.5 billion kWh<\/td>222%<\/td><\/tr>
5G<\/strong><\/td>50.4 billion kWh<\/td>296.5 billion kWh<\/td>488%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n

To date, only two major data center operators in China, Chindata<\/a> and AtHub<\/a>, have committed to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2030.

\u201cInternet companies in China must commit to achieve 100% renewable energy and carbon neutrality across the supply chain by 2030. At the same time, policymakers can help enable this transition by mandating the use of 100% renewable energy and providing financial incentives for companies to shift to wind and solar. Digital technology should be a solution to the climate crisis, not a growing source of emissions,\u201d said Ye. 


Notes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

[1] Assuming China\u2019s grid decarbonizes toward between 1.5\u00b0C and 2\u00b0C, which would mean that non-fossil share of power generation reaches 53%-61% in 2035.

Abridged English report here<\/a>.

Full report here<\/a> (in Chinese).


Media Contacts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Erin Newport, International Communications Officer, Greenpeace East Asia: +886 958\u200b 026 791, erin.newport@greenpeace.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n

Greenpeace International Press Desk, pressdesk.int@greenpeace.org, +31 (0) 20 718 2470 (available 24 hours)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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