- Renewable Challenges: Grid and Coal Storage
- Local Impact: Pollution and Health Consequences
- China’s Coal Expansion: Despite Renewable Prowess
Coal-fired power facilities in China are sometimes more unsightly than one might assume. Verdant farmlands and hills encompass specific settings, while dense chimneys are subtly adorned with pastoral scenes and blue skies.
However, China’s coal addiction continues to be a shady enterprise, with the local population bearing the burden of its consequences. They inhabit Huangxi village, located in the southern province of Guangdong, beneath the canopy of one such plant. The road to the coal yard is perpetually congested with vehicles carrying the noxious black fuel. Thick layers of pollution permeate the atmosphere, and individuals who can afford to vacate have already done so.
Chen Yingwen, sixty years old, has spent her entire existence nearby. She grants us access to her residence and divulges the grime that envelops her existence. “It becomes filthy immediately after being cleaned,” she explains as she runs a tissue along the window frame.
“Look, just one wipe and so much dust.” She describes the transformative impact of the plant from the rooftop of her building, providing a panoramic vista of the facility. She claims that when it rains, contaminated water travels everywhere and infects the vegetables, rendering them inedible. Despite the immense quantity of grime, what else can be done? Our complaints were in vain.
Global Climate Objectives
It is widely acknowledged that attaining global climate objectives will be unattainable without action from China. It is responsible for one-third of global greenhouse gases and 27% of global carbon dioxide emissions, as reported by the World Bank. China has committed to reducing its coal consumption, stating that it will achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 and reach its emissions pinnacle in 2030.
Even with these assurances, the Huangxi coal plant is one of numerous recently expanded facilities.
Greenpeace’s analysis of government documents indicates that China initiated a more significant number of coal-fired power projects in the initial quarter of 2023 compared to the entire year of 2021. Guangdong province received the most green lights of any area.
A brief indication of the reason can be observed in Dongguan, situated a short distance up the coast. Small-scale manufacturers labour assiduously along hundreds of suburban streets. Family-owned enterprises operate in minuscule workshops that manufacture apparel, cut timber, and weld metal. Guangdong is a manufacturing haven with substantial energy demand and a sizable population.
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However, due to its warm climate, it is also susceptible to climate disturbances. The occurrence of severe heatwaves in 2021 and 2022 precipitated droughts, which subsequently caused power outages. The term ‘energy security’ is becoming increasingly prevalent, and experts believe this was a determining factor in initiating so many new coal initiatives. However, not every individual is opposed to it.
Balancing Energy Supply and Demand
Manufacturer Zhen Haiming responds, “It’s a good thing, right?” when queried about the newly proposed coal projects. “It means electricity demand is met.” His modest company manufactures aluminium and steel components, and he claims that power outages are costly. It’s beneficial for us manufacturers so long as the machinery remains operational.
Most of China’s coal is extracted in the frigid northern provinces, much further away from Guangdong. However, these regions also illustrate the paradoxical nature of China’s energy policy. China’s renewable energy investments have a drawback. Coal may originate locally, but substantial investments in renewable energy also increase. In this regard, China is, in fact, the undisputed global leader.
It has surpassed its objectives and is generally acknowledged to have fallen behind the rest of the world.
China’s Energy Dilemma
Already exceeding 50% green energy capacity, this figure is sufficient to power every household in the enormous nation of China. Wind turbines are ubiquitous wherever one looks in the windswept regions of the north. However, capacity is distinct from consumption. Merely 14% of China’s energy consumption in 2022 was derived from wind and solar sources; coal remained the predominant energy source at 56%.
Consequently, despite its immense dominance in renewable energy sources, why is this fossil fuel still so heavily relied upon?
The answer, however, resides predominantly in the geographical and infrastructure obstacles that China and other major nations attempting to manage the energy transition confront. To begin with, complications relate to the electrical grid. It remains antiquated despite comparatively substantial investments, and its expansive regions remain disconnected. Physically, green energy produced in the sparsely populated north of China cannot be transported to the south, where demand is more significant. This explains the continued haste with which southern provinces construct additional power facilities.
The Necessity for Green Energy Storage Solutions
The second obstacle is the necessity for green energy storage solutions, crucial to maximising renewables’ potential.
Envision Energy is a multinational corporation specialising in distributing green technology. “The generation of wind energy is subject to fluctuations,” Zou Quanlin explains as he guides us through a facility where the wind velocity varies. “However, factories have specific power demands; they require a completely safe, dependable, and light supply of electricity.” For this reason, we require this storage system to ensure the safety and dependability of our supply.
Energy generated from turbines at this facility in Inner Mongolia is stored and subsequently discharged into the power grid in response to demand, ensuring no point is wasted. A genuine sense of optimism coexists with the recognition that much progress remains. “Do we still need to build many more storage systems in China?” Zou further states. “Yes, I think yes.”
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