Researchers say that China's coal power construction in 2024 is at a 10-year high.

Researchers said that China has begun construction of 94,5 gigawatts in coal-fired energy in 2024. This is the largest number of new projects since 2015. It will hinder the country's move away from fossil fuels.

Since 2023, power shortages have prompted a surge in new coal projects. The country is the world's largest coal consumer and greenhouse gas emitter.

Qi Qin is a researcher at CREA's Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

The report's main author, Qi, said that this could present challenges to global climate efforts. This is especially true at a moment when countries will be expected to raise their ambitions in order for them achieve the 2035 targets.

The report by CREA, the Global Energy Monitor think tank and CREA said that the surge in demand came despite an increase of renewable capacity at a record level last year. It could also make it more difficult to connect clean energy to the grid.

According to China's energy regulator, it has retired over 100 GW of coal-fired energy in the past decade. New projects can only provide backup for renewable energy bases.

China has also installed 356 GW in wind and solar power last year. This is six years earlier than the target for 2030 of 1,200 GW.

The report on Thursday said that renewable power is still struggling to compete with conventional energy for grid space in China, as utilisation rates fell sharply at the end of last.

China has committed to cutting coal consumption over the five-year period 2026-2030 as it strives to reach its peak emissions before the end the decade.

The industry is now being encouraged to lock up as much coal as possible before new regulations that could be implemented as soon as next year.

Qi said that the current Chinese push for coal power is driven primarily by industrial interests, which are pushing coal expansion under a banner of energy security.

She said that "these groups are aware of the constraints imposed on them by 2030's carbon peak and the 2060 carbon neutrality target and they are working quickly to ensure growth before the window closes." (Reporting and editing by Tom Hogue; David Stanway)

(source: Reuters)