China: A new report has stated that China has approved the construction of another 106 gigawatts of coal-fired power capacity in 2022, which is four times higher than 2021 and the highest since 2015.

According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) and Global Energy Monitor (GEM), over the year, 50 GW of coal power capacity went into construction across the country, up by more than half compared with the previous year, driven by energy security considerations.

“The speed at which projects progressed through permitting to construction in 2022 was extraordinary, with many projects sprouting up, gaining permits, obtaining financing, and apparently breaking ground in a matter of months,” GEM analyst Ms. Flora Champenois observed.

The report further stated that many of the newly approved projects were identified as “supporting” baseload capacity, which is designed to enhance the stability of the power grid and minimise blackout risks.

According to the authors of the report, many are located in regions that already had a clear capacity surplus, and power supply problems would be better addressed by improving grid reliability and efficiency.

China suffered a wave of blackouts in September 2021 as a result of coal supply shortages, cutting off thousands of homes and factories.

Beijing has been trying to strengthen its economy after growth and employment were badly hit by stringent zero-COVID measures in 2022, spreading concerns that its low-carbon efforts would be sidelined.

In addition, the country seeks to bring its climate-warming carbon dioxide emissions to a peak by 2030.

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