Мониторинг событий в экологической сфере КНР (по состоянию на 30.11.2025 г.)
— Премьер Госсовета КНР Ли Цян подписал постановление Госсовета о введении в действие Положения о мониторинге экологической среды. Новое Положение, которое вступит в силу 1 января 2026 года, состоит из семи глав и 49 статей. Оно направлено на стандартизацию деятельности по мониторингу экологической среды, расширение возможностей мониторинга и обеспечение качества соответствующих данных.
— В Бразилии завершилась 30-ая Конференция сторон Рамочной конвенции по изменению климата. Выступая на мероприятии в кулуарах саммита, заместитель главы китайской делегации на COP30 Ся Инсянь заявил, что идея отказа от ископаемого топлива получила бы большее признание, если бы была сформулирована иначе, с упором на внедрение возобновляемых источников энергии. Предложение Ся Инсяня подкреплено активным развитием возобновляемой энергетики и постоянно сокращающейся долей угольной генерации в энергобалансе Китая.
Китайская сторона отметила, что пути энергетического перехода в разных странах неизбежно будут различаться из-за различий в их экономических, социальных и природных условиях. «Это требует дальнейших исследований для каждой страны при разработке собственных дорожных карт развития возобновляемой энергетики».
— По мере того, как Китай движется к достижению пика выбросов углерода к 2030 году, следующие пять лет будут иметь решающее значение. Поскольку уголь и нефть по-прежнему составляют основу энергетической системы, они будут играть ключевую роль в климатической повестке страны. Согласно официальным прогнозам, к 2030 году доля ископаемого топлива в общем потреблении энергии составит менее 75%. Ожидается, что потребление угля достигнет пика примерно в 2027 году, при этом спрос на сталь и строительные материалы будет постепенно снижаться. Общее потребление нефти, вероятно, достигнет пика примерно в 2026 году, поскольку использование нефтепродуктов в качестве топлива уже достигло максимального уровня, а спрос на нефтехимическое сырье сохранит умеренный рост.
— Минкоммерции КНР пообещало расширить «зелёную» торговлю, чтобы способствовать оптимизации и модернизации торговли для достижения целей страны по сокращению выбросов. Министерство опубликовало советующий документ по реализации мер по расширению «зелёной» торговли. Это первый специализированный документ в области «зелёной» торговли, где говорится, что министерство будет расширять возможности внешнеторговых предприятий в области «зелёной» трансформации при экспорте товаров.
На этапе исследований и разработок всё больше предприятий интегрируют экологичные концепции в производство. Компании постоянно внедряют инновации в области сырья, использования энергии и производственных процессов, чтобы повысить экологичность своей продукции. На этапе логистики внешнеторговые перевозки всё чаще задействуют транспортные средства и суда, работающие на чистой энергии, что приводит к устойчивому сокращению выбросов углерода. «Эти примеры наглядно иллюстрируют экологическую трансформацию внешнеторговых производственных и цепочек поставок», — говорят китайские эксперты.
— Министерство транспорта Китая на Форуме «2025 North Bund Forum» в Шанхае запустило «Инициативу по международному сотрудничеству в области экологически чистых транспортных коридоров», призывая к совместным усилиям по созданию более безопасной, эффективной и экологичной глобальной экосистемы судоходства. В инициативе изложены семь ключевых мер по содействию международному сотрудничеству в области экологически чистых транспортных коридоров. Эти меры включают поэтапное расширение экологически чистых транспортных коридоров, ускорение разработки экологичных и низкоуглеродных судов, развитие портов с (почти) нулевым уровнем выбросов углерода, увеличение возможностей поставок экологически чистого топлива, расширение международного сотрудничества в данной сфере.
— Китай опубликовал первое комплексное руководство по стимулированию потребления и регулированию возобновляемой энергии, направленное на обеспечение эффективного использования энергии в сочетании с масштабным внедрением чистой энергетики. Документ совместно принят Госкомитетом по развитию и реформам и Госкомитетом по энергетике КНР, устанавливает два ключевых ориентира.
К 2030 году Китай планирует создать скоординированную систему для более эффективного управления возобновляемой энергетикой, что обеспечит более сбалансированную торговлю электроэнергией между провинциями и лучшую интеграцию энергосистем. К 2035 году страна намерена построить «энергосистему нового типа», способную обеспечить значительно большую долю возобновляемых источников энергии при поддержке единого национального рынка электроэнергии для балансировки спроса и предложения по всей стране.
— За последнее десятилетие рынок электроэнергии Китая претерпел радикальные изменения: объёмы рыночной торговли резко возросли, появились новые участники, чему способствовало стремительное развитие возобновляемой энергетики в стране.
Объём рыночных сделок с электроэнергией в Китае резко вырос с 1,1 трлн кВт/ч в 2016 году до 6,2 трлн кВт/ч в 2024 году, что представляет собой скачок с 17% до 63% от общего потребления электроэнергии. Число зарегистрированных субъектов рынка возросло до более чем 800 тыс., что в 20 раз больше, чем в 2016 году. Угольные электростанции, а также промышленные и коммерческие потребители полностью вышли на рынок, новые источники энергии также готовятся к полноценному участию, говорится в официальных сообщениях.
— По данным Национального управления лесного хозяйства и пастбищ, Китай недавно добавил 22 водно-болотных угодья в свой список водно-болотных объектов национального значения, в результате чего общее число таких угодий достигло 80.
Этот шаг свидетельствует о приверженности Китая укреплению охраны водно-болотных угодий в последние годы, включая принятие первого специализированного закона об их защите, что стало важной вехой в его усилиях по защите окружающей среды.
— По заявлению официальных лиц, мощность новых накопителей энергии в Китае превысила 100 млн. кВт, что стало важной вехой в переходе страны к энергосистеме нового типа и упрочило её мировое лидерство в развитии возобновляемой энергетики. С конца периода 13-й пятилетки (2016–2020 гг.) мощности систем хранения энергии в Китае выросли более чем в 30 раз и в настоящее время составляют более 40 процентов от общей мировой мощности.
С начала 14-го пятилетнего плана (2021–2025 гг.) инвестиции в данные проекты в Китае превысили 200 млрд. юаней (28 млрд. долл.), что способствовало привлечению более 1 трлн. юаней инвестиций в смежные проекты в целом.
— Китай завершил строительство первого в мире подводного центра обработки данных, работающего на ветровой генерации в Шанхае, установив новый стандарт экологичного развития цифровой инфраструктуры. Проект получил инвестиции в размере 1,6 млрд. юаней (около 226 млн. долл.) и обладает мощностью 24 мВт. По сравнению с традиционными наземными центрами обработки данных проект рассчитан на использование более 95% экологически чистой электроэнергии.
— На электростанции Аньцзи компании China Energy Investment Corp (CHN Energy) в провинции Чжэцзян был запущен в эксплуатацию крупнейший и самый эффективный в стране газовый энергоблок, что стало важным шагом на пути к энергетическому переходу страны. Энергоблок успешно прошёл 168-часовой пробный пуск с полной нагрузкой и официально вступил в коммерческую эксплуатацию, заменив устаревшие, более загрязняющие окружающую среду установки и ускорив переход на более чистые источники энергии, сообщает CHN Energy.
— По данным Минэкологии КНР, мощности Китая по переработке отработавших солнечных панелей, ветряных турбин и аккумуляторов для электромобилей значительно превышают текущие объёмы отходов, в результате чего многие специализированные заводы остаются недозагруженными.
К 2030 году объём отработавшего оборудования, по прогнозам, достигнет примерно 1,5–2 млн тонн для фотоэлектрических модулей, 500 000 тонн для лопастей ветряных турбин и 1 млн тонн для аккумуляторных батарей. Однако эти оценки, основанные на сроках службы продукции, могут не отражать фактический уровень утилизации, поскольку часть отработанного оборудования будет использоваться повторно.
— В Тяньцзине были запущены две общенациональные платформы по переработке отходов, что стало важным шагом на пути к созданию единой системы повторного использования ресурсов по всему Китаю. The National Recycled Steel Trading Service Platform and the China Equipment Asset Recycling Platform направлены на решение давних проблем в секторе переработки, таких как региональная раздробленность и недостаточная прозрачность. В частности, на платформах пользователи могут размещать онлайн-заявки на сдачу металлолома, и система быстро сопоставляет их с покупателями. Каждая транзакция регистрируется и полностью отслеживается.
— Верховный народный суд Китая вынес решения по четырем знаковым делам, связанным с нецелевым использованием пахотных земель, подтвердив необходимость ужесточения наказания для тех, кто незаконно занимает сельскохозяйственные угодья и занимается незаконной добычей полезных ископаемых. Верховный суд подчеркнул важность использования судебных мер для поддержания основного принципа защиты сельскохозяйственных угодий, обеспечения продовольственной безопасности и благополучия нации.
— Первый в Китае проект по переработке угля с производством «зелёного» водорода начал коммерческую эксплуатацию. Прогнозируется, что данный проект, работающий в сфере углехимии, будет производить 70,59 млн. куб. водорода в год.
China unveils regulation on ecological environment monitoring
Source: Xinhua
Date: Nov, 6
Chinese Premier Li Qiang has signed a State Council decree promulgating a regulation on the monitoring of the ecological environment.
The new regulation, which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, comprises seven chapters and 49 articles. It aims to standardize ecological environment monitoring activities, enhance monitoring capabilities and ensure the quality of relevant data.
The regulation emphasizes the need to accelerate the development of a modern ecological environment monitoring system, with a focus on comprehensively enhancing the automation, digitization and smart capabilities of ecological environment monitoring.
It also highlights improved public monitoring by establishing an ecological environment monitoring network based on the principles of rational layout, comprehensive functionality, classification and shared development.
It also stresses strengthened supervision and monitoring of various pollution sources, as well as monitoring and early warning for ecological environment risks. Additionally, it mandates the establishment of a robust monitoring and management system for emergent ecological environment incidents.
Regarding technical service organizations, the regulation stipulates that such entities must possess the necessary equipment, technical capabilities, professional personnel and management capacity, and are required to register with environmental authorities.
Furthermore, the regulation underscores enhanced oversight and stricter accountability measures.
Country’s new energy road map avoids one-size-fits-all dilemma
Source: China Daily
Date: Nov, 25
A fortnight of extended United Nations climate talks closed in Belem, Brazil…
It all started because of a dispute over including a road map to transition away from fossil fuels — whose emissions are the biggest contributors to climate change — into COP30’s final outcome.
Over 80 countries insisted that the final deal must include a concrete plan to act on the previous commitment to move beyond coal, oil, and natural gas adopted at COP28 in Dubai in 2023. But many delegates from the Global South disagreed, citing concerns about likely sudden economic contraction and heightened social instability. The summit thus ended without any agreement on this road map.
Now that the conference is over, and emotions are no longer running high, all parties should look objectively at the potential solution proposed by China, which some international media outlets wrongly painted as an opponent to the road map.
Addressing an event on the sidelines of the summit, Xia Yingxian, deputy head of China’s delegation to COP30, said the narrative on transitioning away from fossil fuels would find greater acceptance if it were framed differently, focusing more on the adoption of renewable energy sources.
Xia’s proposal is backed up by the robust renewable energy development and increasingly shrinking proportion of coal-fired power in China’s energy consumption mix. As of the end of June, China’s total installed renewable energy capacity had reached 2,160 gigawatts, representing more than 40 percent of the global total and exceeding the combined capacity of any other region.
Installed wind and solar capacity in China reached 1,206 GW by the end of July last year, surpassing the nation’s 2030 target of 1,200 GW six years ahead of schedule.
While China still has many thermal power plants, the vast majority of which are coal-fired, as of May the proportion of their capacity in the country’s total had declined to about 40 percent, from roughly 60 percent in 2020.
Currently, renewable energy capacity accounts for more than two-fourths of all the installed power capacity in China and one out of every three kilowatt-hours of electricity consumed in the country is from clean energy sources.
Such progress was made by following the principle of «establishing the new before abolishing the old». That is replacing traditional power only after scaling up reliable new energy.
As Wang Yi, vice-chair of China’s national expert panel on climate change, pointed out, «The core objective of the energy transition is the creation of a new energy system. Without such a system, how can you transition away?»
Wang highlighted China’s road map to establish its new energy system through its five-year plans. China formulated relevant energy transition policies and an action plan during its 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period. In the second half of this decade, during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, China plans to peak coal and oil consumption, and then gradually reduce coal consumption, while striving to accelerate the construction of a new energy system.
The country’s vision is to have a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient new energy system preliminarily established by 2035, and it aims for non-fossil fuel sources to account for 80 percent of its total energy mix by 2060.
Wang underscored that instead of following a one-size-fits-all approach, different regions and departments, some of which have rich fossil fuel resources, have distinct roles to play.
Currently, coal-fired power’s primary function is to ensure base-load supply security, and it has transitioned to be a power source for flexible grid regulation, he noted.
Different countries’ energy transition pathways will inevitably differ due to their disparate economic, social and natural resource conditions, he pointed out. «This necessitates further research and explorations for each nation when they draft their own renewable energy development road maps».
As Wang stressed, what is important is having long-term goals, concrete plans, and actionable steps for new energy development — as this is what «truly demonstrates a commitment to moving away from fossil fuels».
How will China peak coal, oil use in its climate push
Source: Global Times
Date: Nov, 25
As China progresses towards its 2030 carbon-peaking target, the upcoming five years — its next national planning cycle — will be crucial. With coal and oil still at the heart of the energy system, they will be central to the country’s climate efforts.
As «work toward reaching peak consumption of coal and petroleum» is part of the Communist Party of China Central Committee’s recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) unveiled last month, how will the world’s largest energy consumer achieve this goal while ensuring energy security?
China’s shift toward clean energy has gained momentum since 2020, when the country pledged to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. The share of non-fossil fuels in the country’s total energy consumption has risen in line with national targets, along with the establishment of the world’s largest and fastest-growing renewable energy system.
In the next five years, China plans to accelerate building a new-type energy system, one in which non-fossil sources replace fossil fuels in a secure, reliable and orderly manner.
Following the principle of maintaining a stable energy supply, coal consumption will be gradually reduced, while the remaining use will be made cleaner and more efficient. At the same time, China will fast-track the development of major clean energy bases, including wind and solar power in the northwest, hydropower in the southwest, offshore wind farms, and coastal nuclear power projects. New energy sources such as biogas, sustainable aviation fuel and geothermal energy will be advanced based on local conditions.
As coal and oil consumption reach their respective peaks, related industries may face challenges. In response, China plans to optimize industrial layouts and structures, expanding the share of advanced capacity while gradually phasing out inefficient coal mining and oil refining.
Official projections suggest that by 2030, fossil fuels will account for less than 75 percent of total energy consumption.
Coal consumption is expected to peak around 2027, with demand from steel and building materials gradually declining. Overall oil consumption will likely reach its peak around 2026, as the usage of refined oil products for fuel has already peaked and petrochemical feedstock demand will maintain moderate growth.
Achieving carbon peaking is not the end. In September 2025, China unveiled its new Nationally Determined Contributions, setting ambitious goals for 2035, including reducing economy-wide net greenhouse gas emissions by 7 percent to 10 percent from peak levels, increasing the share of non-fossil fuels in total energy consumption to over 30 percent, and expanding the installed capacity of wind and solar power to over six times the 2020 levels.
Experts believe the new commitments mark China’s entry into a more comprehensive and systematic phase of low-carbon, resilient development, strengthening the country’s responsibility in tackling global climate change and injecting greater certainty and stability into international climate governance.
China vows to expand green trade to help achieve dual carbon goals
Source: Global Times
Date: Oct, 31
China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has vowed to expand green trade in a bid to facilitate trade optimization and upgrading, contributing to the achievement of the country’s «dual carbon» goals and better serving global climate governance.
Li Chenggang, China international trade representative and vice minister of commerce, made the remarks during a briefing in Beijing, after the ministry issued the implementation opinions on expanding green trade.
Noting that the implementation opinions form the first specialized policy document in the field of green trade, Li said that the ministry will enhance the green and low-carbon development capabilities of foreign trade enterprises by strengthening training and promoting green design and production to reduce the carbon emissions of foreign trade products.
In terms of expanding imports and exports of green and low-carbon products and technologies, the ministry intends to develop trade in sustainable fuels such as green hydrogen, while exploring trading of remanufactured products. It will also support enterprises in leveraging preferential arrangements under free trade agreements to expand cooperation in green and low-carbon fields, thereby creating new highlights in foreign economic and trade cooperation, Li said.
In order to create a favorable international environment for the development of green trade, MOFCOM will participate in consultations and discussions on global carbon-related economic and trade rules, strengthen exchanges on green and low-carbon development topics, and promote the establishment of more inclusive and equitable international green trade rules. The ministry will also actively participate in negotiations on green issues in high-standard economic and trade agreements, and elevate the level of environmental sections in free trade agreements, the official noted.
«Expanding green trade was among the country’s development priorities for the 2026-30 period in the recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan,» Wang Peng, an associate researcher at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday.
Wang said that the implementation opinions have charted new pathways for enterprise transformation. «The move will not only accelerate the green transformation of traditional industries, but also develop new high-value-added growth drivers for the country’s trade,» the expert noted.
During the briefing, Li noted that in recent years, China’s foreign trade has achieved notable progress in green and low-carbon development, which is reflected not only in product upgrades and iterations but also in profound transformations across the entire production and supply chain.
At the research and development stage, an increasing number of enterprises are integrating green concepts into product design. At the production stage, companies are continuously innovating in raw materials, energy use, and manufacturing processes to enhance the green and low-carbon attributes of their products. At the logistics stage, foreign trade transportation is increasingly adopting clean-energy vehicles and vessels, resulting in a steady reduction in carbon emissions. «These examples vividly illustrate the green transformation of foreign trade production and supply chains,» Li noted.
Currently, the international market favors not only China’s high-quality green products but also comprehensive solutions encompassing technology, services, and management. For example, a Chinese company exported green and low-carbon building materials to Saudi Arabia and provided a complete set of energy-saving and carbon-reduction design and construction solutions, helping to build a 300,000-square-meter urban complex. Another Chinese enterprise supplied Tanzania with a full rapid transit system, including new-energy buses, improving local urban commuting efficiency. «These transformations vividly demonstrate the competitiveness of China’s green trade,» the official said.
Wang said that China has taken concrete actions to fulfill its dual carbon goals, offering a replicable modernization pathway for green transformation to developing countries. «At the same time, by sharing green technologies and management expertise globally through multilateral platforms, China is continuously enhancing its capacity to serve the world through green trade, better sharing the fruits of green and low-carbon development with the global community,» the expert noted.
China launches initiative for international green shipping corridors
Source: China Daily
Date: Oct, 20
China’s Ministry of Transport has launched the “Initiative for International Cooperation on Green Shipping Corridor” during the 2025 North Bund Forum in Shanghai, calling for joint efforts to build a safer, more efficient, and greener global shipping ecosystem.
The initiative outlines seven key measures to promote international cooperation on green shipping corridors. The measures include expanding green shipping corridors in phases, accelerating the development of green and low-carbon vessels, developing (near) zero-carbon ports, enhancing green fuel supply capacity, leveraging government-market collaboration, sharing best practices, and supporting innovation.
Several cooperative achievements in building green shipping corridors were announced at the forum, including the joint establishment of a green shipping corridor between Qingdao Port in east China and the Port of Hamburg, Germany.
According to the ministry, China has maintained its top global ranking in maritime connectivity for several consecutive years, with steadily expanding openness and international cooperation in the sector.
As of April this year, China had signed bilateral or multilateral maritime agreements with 70 countries and regions.
Major ports across China, including Shanghai Port and Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, have accelerated the development of green fuel supply infrastructure.
Over the past few years, green corridors have been gaining increasing popularity in the maritime industry. For instance, a report Getting to Zero Coalition, published in late 2024, found a major growth in the number of initiatives, increasing by 40% in 2023 to a total of 62 initiatives globally.
China issues guideline to boost renewable power consumption
Source: Dialogue Earth
Date: Nov, 13
China has published its first comprehensive guideline to enhance the consumption and regulation of renewable energy, aiming to ensure large clean-power deployment is matched by efficient usage, Xinhua reported.
The Guideline on Promoting the Consumption and Regulation of New Energy, jointly issued on 10 November by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National Energy Administration, sets two key milestones.
By 2030, China plans to establish a coordinated system to manage renewable power more efficiently, enabling smoother power trading between provinces and better grid integration.
By 2035, the country aims to build a “new-type power system” capable of accommodating a much higher share of renewables, supported by a unified national electricity market to balance supply and demand nationwide.
China’s renewable power sector has expanded rapidly in recent years, with total wind and solar capacity reaching 1.48 terawatts in the first quarter of 2025, surpassing coal for the first time.
Yet rising “curtailment” pressures, when available wind or solar power goes unused, have highlighted the need for stronger consumption mechanisms, according to officials from the National Energy Administration.
Bloomberg data shows that in the first half of 2025, solar curtailment rose to 5.7% from 3% a year earlier, while wind curtailment reached 6.6%, up from 3.9% in 2024.
To address these challenges, the new policy divides new-energy projects into five categories and calls for tailored strategies for each. For example, combining local consumption with long-distance power transmission for desert bases, and strengthening offshore power networks to serve coastal demand.
The guideline refines China’s earlier strategy for building a new-type power system, Zhang Kuiye of the China Energy Research Society told Jiemian News.
Zhang said it offers a clear “roadmap” covering policy, market, technology and regulation, marking a shift in China’s renewable sector from rapid capacity expansion to higher quality, coordinated development.
Surge in China’s electricity market-based trading volumes
Source: China Daily
Date: Nov, 4
China’s electricity market has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past decade, with market-based trading volumes surging and new participants emerging, underpinned by the country’s rapid expansion of renewable energy, said officials and industry experts.
Marketized electricity transactions in China drastically increased from 1.1 trillion kilowatt-hours in 2016 to 6.2 trillion kWh in 2024, representing a jump from 17 percent to 63 percent of total societal electricity consumption, said Huang Xuenong, executive director-general for regulation of the National Energy Administration.
«After 10 years of exploration and practice, construction of China’s electricity market has achieved remarkable results,» Huang said during the International Forum on Energy Transition held recently in Suzhou, Jiangsu province.
Figures released by the administration reveal that electricity market transactions in the first eight months of 2025 reached 4.3 trillion kWh, a 7 percent year-on-year increase, accounting for 63.2 percent of the country’s total power consumption.
The number of registered market entities had soared to over 800,000, a 20-fold increase since 2016. Coal-fired power units and industrial and commercial users had fully entered the market, with new energy sources also set to participate fully, it said.
Huang said the burgeoning market has also seen the proliferation of over 4,000 power sales companies, with nearly 600,000 retail users now purchasing electricity through the retail market.
Novel business models, including independent energy storage, virtual power plants and load aggregators, are thriving, fostering dynamic interactions among diverse participants, which are crucial as China’s grid grapples with the demands of rapidly integrating intermittent renewables, he said.
«With the rapid development of new energy, the demand for power system regulation capabilities is strong, and new business forms and models continue to emerge to ensure the safe and stable operation of the power system.»
Yang Kun, executive vice-chairman of the China Electricity Council, added that by the end of June, the number of market operating entities nationwide reached 973,000, up 23.8 percent year-on-year.
He emphasized that emerging entities like new energy storage, virtual power plants and load aggregators have achieved «large-scale, market-oriented breakthroughs», injecting new vitality into the power market.
China has set ambitious targets, aiming for nonfossil energy to account for over 30 percent of total energy consumption by 2035. The combined installed capacity of wind and solar power is projected to exceed six times its 2020 level, striving to reach 3.6 billion kilowatts.
«Over the past decade, China’s power system reform has continued to deepen, the electricity market system has gradually improved, and resource allocation capabilities have been increasingly optimized, providing strong support for accelerating the construction of a new power system,» said Yang.
Interprovincial and interregional transactions reached 1.03 trillion kWh in the first eight months of 2025, an increase of 9.4 percent year-on-year, demonstrating normalized cross-regional trading.
The long-term market continues to serve as a «ballast stone» for power supply, while interprovincial spot markets and seven provincial spot electricity markets have officially commenced operations. The expanding and diversifying auxiliary services market provides critical support for high-penetration renewable energy integration, he said.
With a shift that implies a greater reliance on market demand and pricing mechanisms, a sustained period of growth in energy storage capacity is expected, further incentivizing entities to invest in more sectors such as energy storage equipment to mitigate risk and ensure grid stability.
According to the NEA, investment in energy storage has seen rapid growth in recent years, spurred by the expansion of renewable energy technologies.
Zhu Gongshan, chairman of GCL Group, China’s largest private power producer, highlighted the critical importance of energy storage, alongside auxiliary services like vehicle-to-grid systems and smart microgrids, for ensuring grid stability.
These technologies are essential for rapidly adjusting power output to meet fluctuating demand and providing reliable backup, thereby fostering a more resilient and responsive energy infrastructure, Zhu said.
Shu Yinbiao, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, emphasized the profound significance of transforming the power sector, identifying it as a crucial element in China’s national endeavor to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.
«China’s power sector has undergone extensive reforms over the past two decades, culminating in a formidable infrastructure that now commands the world’s largest installed capacity,» he said.
«This substantial growth and modernization reflect the nation’s significant investment and strategic development in its energy capabilities, establishing it as a global leader in power generation.»
However, despite this remarkable progress, Shu cautioned that the sector faces ongoing challenges, particularly in maintaining and enhancing the reliability of such a vast and complex system, as the share of variable renewable energy continues to grow.
These complexities are further compounded by the escalating integration of variable renewable energy sources, which necessitates sophisticated solutions to ensure grid stability and consistent power delivery, he said.
To address these future hurdles, Shu advocated for a concentrated drive toward independent innovation within the power system. He stressed the imperative to achieve breakthroughs in core technologies, which are essential for guaranteeing the healthy and stable operation of new-generation power systems.
Additionally, he underscored the need for intensified technological advancements to facilitate the widespread and large-scale deployment of clean energy solutions across China.
To further boost the nation’s capacity to efficiently optimize and distribute renewable energy resources across vast geographical areas, China has been actively enhancing its power grid infrastructure through continuous advancements in grid connections and transmission projects.
The country’s extensive ultra-high voltage grid, featuring lines operating above 800 kV DC or 1,000 kV AC, has profoundly reshaped its energy landscape, said Ye Xiaoning, a senior engineer at the new energy department of the State Grid Energy Research Institute.
This powerful network facilitates the rapid integration of renewable power sources. By the end of last year, China had established 42 UHV transmission lines, creating a robust and resilient energy backbone, according to the institute.
Grid operators, including State Grid Corp of China, are consistently bolstering new energy transmission initiatives, driving both intra- and inter-provincial projects.
State Grid, the largest operator, is escalating its investment in UHV projects to enable efficient, long-distance power transfer. It plans a record investment exceeding 650 billion yuan ($91.35 billion) in the grid this year, demonstrating a strong commitment to an integrated and powerful energy future.
China adds 22 sites to wetlands of national importance list
Source: China Daily
Date: Oct, 20
China has recently added 22 wetlands to its list of wetlands of national importance, bringing the total number to 80, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA).
The new additions reflect China’s continued commitment to strengthening wetland conservation in recent years, including the implementation of its first specialized law on wetland protection, a milestone in its ecological protection efforts.
To date, China is home to 82 wetlands recognized as internationally important and 22 international wetland cities. Meanwhile, the country has added or restored more than 1 million hectares of wetlands nationwide.
Looking ahead, the NFGA said it will further promote wetland restoration and monitoring efforts to enhance the quality and stability of wetland ecosystems.
New energy storage tops 100m kW
Source: China Daily
Date: Oct, 20
China’s new energy storage capacity has exceeded 100 million kilowatts, marking a major milestone in the nation’s transition toward a new-type energy system and consolidating its global lead in renewable energy development, said officials at an energy storage sub-forum on Nov 5.
«By the end of September, China’s new energy storage installations had surpassed 100 million kW, becoming a vital part of the new-type power system,» said Song Hongkun, deputy director of the National Energy Administration, at a sub-forum on high-quality development of new energy storage during the eighth Hongqiao International Economic Forum in Shanghai on Nov 5.
Song said China has built the world’s largest and fastest-growing renewable energy system and the most complete new energy industrial chain. He added that new energy storage — known for its flexible deployment, rapid response and short construction period — has become a key technology underpinning the development of new energy and power systems.
Bian Guangqi, deputy director-general of the NEA’s department of energy conservation and technology equipment, said China’s new energy storage capacity has grown more than 30-fold since the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20), now accounting for over 40 percent of total global capacity.
Bian said the sector has advanced from its early commercialization stage into large-scale development, with steady progress in technology, industrial upgrading, business models and application scenarios.
Emerging technologies such as solid-state batteries and hydrogen storage are also advancing rapidly, offering robust support for multi-timescale and high-safety energy storage needs in future power systems, Bian added.
«Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), investment in new energy storage projects in China has exceeded 200 billion yuan ($28 billion), driving over 1 trillion yuan of investment along the industrial chain,» Song said, adding that China’s products are helping accelerate global energy transition by contributing Chinese strength to the world’s green transformation.
Looking ahead, the NEA will intensify support for technological innovation in new energy storage, nurture new quality productive forces in the energy sector and work toward achieving the nation’s carbon goals on schedule.
China completes construction of world’s first wind-powered underwater data center
Source: Xinhua
Date: Oct, 21
China has completed the construction of the world’s first wind-powered underwater data center (UDC) project in east China’s Shanghai Municipality, setting a benchmark for the green development of computing infrastructure.
Located in the Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, the UDC project received an investment of 1.6 billion yuan (about 226 million U.S. dollars) and has a total power capacity of 24 megawatts, according to the administrative committee of the Lin-gang Special Area.
Compared to traditional land-based data centers, the project is designed to use over 95 percent green electricity, reducing power consumption by 22.8 percent, and water and land use by 100 percent and over 90 percent, respectively.
The administrative committee said the completion of the project marks a breakthrough in the integrated development of UDC and offshore renewable energy. It provides a demonstration for the green and low-carbon development of computing infrastructure and for the local consumption of offshore wind power.
CHN Energy’s new power unit to cut carbon emissions sharply
Source: China Daily
Date: Nov, 30
The country’s single largest and most efficient gas-fired power unit has been brought online at China Energy Investment Corp’s (CHN Energy) Anji power plant in Zhejiang province, marking a significant step in the nation’s energy transition efforts.
The No 1 gas-fired generating unit at the CHN Energy Anji plant successfully completed a 168-hour full-load trial run and officially entered commercial operation— replacing older, more polluting facilities and accelerating the shift toward cleaner energy sources, CHN Energy said.
The new 9H-class gas unit boasts a combined cycle efficiency of 64.15 percent, representing a gain of about 17 percent compared to conventional million-kilowatt coal-fired units.
Crucially, the unit’s carbon emission intensity is only 40 percent of a comparable coal-fired plant and produces virtually no particulate matter or sulfur dioxide, significantly reducing pollution at the source.
The Anji plant replaces the former Meixi coal-fired power plant, which was once the largest in Zhejiang province before being retired under national efforts to replace older, smaller units with larger, more modern facilities.
The new project consists of two 9H-class units with a total installed capacity of 1.69 million kilowatts (kW). Following the launch of Unit 1, the second unit is currently in the commissioning phase and is slated to begin power generation early next year.
Once fully operational, the plant is expected to generate approximately 7 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, enough to meet the yearly electricity needs of about 6 million residents. The total projected annual reduction in carbon dioxide emissions is about 1.86 million metric tons, with a saving of approximately 680,000 tons of standard coal.
Natl capacity to recycle now exceeds supply
Source: China Daily
Date: Nov, 29
China’s capacity to recycle retired solar panels, wind turbines and electric vehicle batteries has far outpaced current waste volumes, leaving many specialized plants underutilized, according to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.
Guo Yijun, director-general of the ministry’s Department of Solid Wastes and Chemicals, made the remarks at a news conference.
By 2030, the volume of retired equipment is projected to reach approximately 1.5 million to 2 million metric tons for photovoltaic modules, 500,000 tons for wind turbine blades and 1 million tons for power batteries, he said.
However, those estimates, based on product lifespans, may not reflect actual disposal levels because some retired equipment will be reused in secondary markets.
Guo said the country has seen rapid growth in its recycling capacity for such materials. Annual capacity for waste photovoltaic modules has reached around 2 million tons, while capacity for waste wind turbine blades has hit about 1 million tons.
A total of 148 companies certified by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to recycle discarded power batteries now have a combined annual capacity of 2.5 million tons, he said.
Overall, China’s recycling capacity now exceeds the supply of retired equipment, often leaving plants operating below potential, he said, describing the situation as «cannot eat their fill».
His remarks addressed concerns from some market observers that the country’s fast-expanding renewable power industry could create volumes of waste that would be difficult to manage.
China’s cumulative installed wind power capacity reached 44.7 gigawatts in 2010, surpassing the United States to rank first in the world, according to the Chinese Wind Energy Association. As of the end of October, the figure had jumped to 590 gigawatts, National Energy Administration data shows.
While wind turbines are designed to operate for 20 to 25 years, early models have often required replacement after only about 15 years due to technological and material limitations.
Guo also cited sufficient capacity for recycling discarded home appliances and vehicles. To ensure standardized and orderly operations in recycling televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners and computers, the government has allocated special funds to subsidize qualified enterprises.
More than 90 companies are eligible for the subsidies, with a combined annual capacity of 180 million units. They recycled about 95 million units in 2024, generating nearly 2 million tons of recycled materials, he said.
«Standardized dismantling not only effectively prevents environmental pollution, but also significantly promotes resource recycling. It is a highly meaningful endeavor,» Guo said.
China also has more than 1,900 qualified end-of-life vehicle recycling and dismantling enterprises nationwide. In 2024, 8.46 million end-of-life vehicles were recycled, representing a 64 percent year-on-year increase, he said.
Despite the growth, Guo cautioned about risks of overcapacity in the sector.
«Regional commerce authorities have repeatedly warned of overcapacity in vehicle dismantling in recent years, advising market participants to make rational investment decisions to avoid resource waste and disorderly competition,» he said.
National platforms launched to boost recycling efforts
Source: China Daily
Date: Nov, 17
Two national-level recycling platforms were launched in Tianjin earlier this month, in a major step toward creating a unified system for resource recovery and reuse across China.
The National Recycled Steel Trading Service Platform and the China Equipment Asset Recycling Platform, both developed by China Resources Recycling Group Co, aim to address long-standing problems in the recycling sector such as regional fragmentation and a lack of transparency.
According to the State-owned enterprise, the digital platforms will use technologies such as artificial intelligence to link information, logistics and capital, helping to turn waste into valuable resources. «We will apply technologies like AI to integrate information, technology, logistics and capital,» said Zhu Jianchun, deputy Party secretary and general manager of CRRG. «This will help shift the resource recycling industry from isolated regional operations to a coordinated national effort.»
Zhu said greater data transparency would improve industry oversight, strengthen credit systems and stimulate market activity.
CRRG’s recycled steel trading platform has already opened to individual sellers, aiming to simplify scrap metal recycling and boost the supply of green raw materials.
Recycled steel mostly comes from old home appliances and machinery. However, about 90 percent of this material is in the hands of consumers, small vendors, and private collectors, making it difficult to gather on a large scale, according to CRRG.
To tackle this, the enterprise launched a personal trading section on its online steel trading platform. The service uses transparent pricing to attract individual collectors and smaller recycling businesses. Through the platform, they can now easily sell scrap steel to certified companies.
On the platform, individuals can post their scrap steel online, and the system quickly matches them with buyers. Every transaction is recorded and can be fully traced.
The scope of the platforms extends beyond industrial materials to include consumer goods.
A nationwide green supply chain for secure mobile phone recycling has already been launched in 32 major cities.
Residents can use streetside kiosks to conveniently and safely recycle old devices. The service ensures personal data is securely erased, which addresses a key public concern and encourages participation in formal recycling channels.
The company is also achieving high recovery rates for critical battery materials. After disassembly, the recovery rates for nickel, cobalt and manganese reach 99.6 percent, while lithium recovery stands at 91 percent.
«These metals are processed into cathode materials and supplied back to battery makers, creating a closedloop resource cycle,» said Bai Chunping, deputy Party secretary and general manager of China Resources Recycling Group Battery Co, a subsidiary of CRRG. This process mitigates the environmental risks of discarded batteries and taps into the potential of «urban mines», he said.
CRRG has also launched the world’s first production line that turns retired solar panels into colorful, functional power-generating materials.
This project creates valuable new products from waste, setting a new standard for reusing solid waste.
CRRG is developing refined recycling systems for other sectors as well. The process works like a reverse assembly line.
At specialized facilities, end-of-life cars are carefully taken apart. Any parts that are still functional, such as engines or doors, are inspected, refurbished and sold as second-hand components.
The remaining car body, viewed not as waste but as a source of raw materials, is then sorted into different metals and plastics.
This «vehicle-parts-materials» chain ensures that almost every piece of a retired car is reused or recycled, closing the loop in the automotive life cycle.
During the event, CRRG signed strategic cooperation agreements with several major State-owned enterprises, including China Unicom, to enhance collaboration in digitalization and technology development. Several of CRRG’s subsidiaries also signed agreements with partners across the industrial chain.
Marking its first anniversary this month, CRRG is positioning itself as a key driver of China’s circular economy under the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) and upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30). The company said it is working to build a national digital map for tracking renewable resources and promoting sustainable development.
Top court warns against farmland encroachment, illegal mining
Source: China Daily
Date: Oct, 9
The Supreme People’s Court, China’s top court, released four landmark cases involving the destruction of arable land, reaffirming the need for harsher penalties for those who unlawfully occupy farmland and engage in illegal mining.
The top court emphasized the importance of using judicial measures to uphold the bottom line of farmland protection, ensuring food security and safeguarding the nation’s well-being.
Among the disclosed cases, some individuals were found to have disguised their encroachment on farmland under the pretext of land improvement or project construction, dumping debris and piling waste on the land, severely damaging the arable layer.
In other instances, the defendants were discovered engaging in illegal mining, using heavy machinery to excavate the land, causing significant destruction and making environmental restoration difficult, resulting in serious damages to the local ecological system.
The top court revealed that all behaviors in these cases had been severely punished, calling on courts nationwide to continue the robust judicial protection of farmland resources and food security.
It also noted that the cases serve as a warning and educational tool to raise public awareness of the importance of farmland protection.
China’s first coal to chemicals project with green hydrogen starts commercial operations
Source: Reuters
Date: Nov,21
China’s first coal-to-chemicals project integrating green hydrogen started commercial operations, according to a report from state-run CCTV. Operated by major state-owned power producer Datang Group, the project is forecast to produce 70.59 million cubic metres of hydrogen annually, station manager Cao Guoan told CCTV.
He did not say how much the plant is currently producing or whether it would also generate other chemical derivatives. Coal chemicals plants typically convert coal into syngas — a mix of carbon monoxide and hydrogen — which can be further transformed into products including ammonia, methanol and olefins.
The plant, in Inner Mongolia’s Duolun, includes a 150-megawatt wind and solar plant that also sends its surplus electricity to the grid, according to the report.
The plant was designated by the energy regulator as a national hydrogen demonstration project and «provides a replicable model for the green transformation of the coal chemicals industry.»
China is one of the few countries transforming coal into chemicals, oil and gas at large scale, a growing industry that is helping to reduce China’s reliance on imports that could be cut off in a conflict. But growth in the emission-intensive sector is a key reason China is behind its 2025 carbon intensity target, spurring efforts to curb emissions.
