https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/518867/feed Wind energy is one of the most-produced renewable energy. Harnessing wind energy for power generation is now a mature technology, and is cost-competitive relative to power generated from fossil fuels like coal and natural gas. Proliferation of wind energy production is a key solution for the world to cut energy-related emissions and fight climate change. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Zhang Tong,Victoria Bela Zhang Tong,Victoria Bela Even as China installs new solar and wind power capacity faster than the rest of the world combined, it is setting new benchmarks for the technologies through innovation. This year alone, Chinese companies and researchers have generated the first electricity from high-altitude winds 4,000 metres above Earth, cleared the last hurdle to commercialising a cheaper and more efficient alternative to silicon solar panels, begun trials of the world’s most powerful floating and fixed-bottom offshore wind... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/science/article/3366302/chinas-solar-wind-innovations-amid-rapid-green-power-buildout?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/science/article/3366302/chinas-solar-wind-innovations-amid-rapid-green-power-buildout?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Sep 2026 04:00:05 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Brazil will not be able to make rare earth magnets from its own raw materials before 2032, the coordinator of the country’s main magnet pilot plant said on Wednesday, leaving China’s near monopoly on the technology intact for years to come. Andre Luis Pimenta de Faria, who runs the plant for Senai, the research and training arm of Brazil’s national industry confederation, told a public policy panel at Exposibram, the country’s largest mining congress, that first batches could come by the end of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3365504/brazils-rare-earths-will-not-loosen-chinas-magnet-grip-decade-researchers-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3365504/brazils-rare-earths-will-not-loosen-chinas-magnet-grip-decade-researchers-say?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Aug 2026 16:55:06 +0000 Huizhao Huang Huizhao Huang China has flown an airborne wind energy system to 4,000 metres (13,123 feet) above sea level and generated electricity from the sky, in what state broadcaster CCTV described as a world first. According to a CCTV report on Saturday, the prototype S4000 craft completed a full work cycle – ascent, station-keeping, power generation and recovery – at a test site in northwestern China, which the broadcaster called a breakthrough for high-altitude wind power and a step towards engineering... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3365180/china-taps-high-altitude-winds-power-generation-flying-craft-4000m?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3365180/china-taps-high-altitude-winds-power-generation-flying-craft-4000m?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Aug 2026 08:00:11 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang For generations, Ulanqab – a city several hundred kilometres northwest of Beijing whose Mongolian name means “red cliff pass” – was known for its windswept pastureland, where cattle grazed and potatoes thrived under long hours of sunlight. Its economy hinged on the weather, driven by the cool, strong breezes sweeping through the Yinshan mountain range. Today, giant wind turbines stand next to livestock across those sloping grasslands. As the global artificial intelligence boom fuels a scramble... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3364920/rural-city-once-known-livestock-now-provides-chinas-ai-computing-fuel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3364920/rural-city-once-known-livestock-now-provides-chinas-ai-computing-fuel?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Aug 2026 02:00:17 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng China has launched its first batch-scale remanufacturing project for retired wind turbines in Jiuquan, Gansu province, as an ageing fleet enters a new phase of its life cycle and Beijing seeks to encourage recycling in its massive renewable-energy sector. China Resources Recycling Group (CRRG) – a state-owned enterprise established in 2024 with backing from China’s State Council and several industrial giants with the aim of bolstering national resource security – said on its website that its... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3364771/china-first-project-breathes-new-life-ageing-wind-turbines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3364771/china-first-project-breathes-new-life-ageing-wind-turbines?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Aug 2026 04:46:00 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li China wasted enough wind and solar power in the first half of this year to cover all new electricity demand, according to a report, as bottlenecks in grid absorption failed to stem a rebound in coal-fired generation. Though solar is poised to overtake coal as China’s largest source of installed power, an estimated 360 terawatt-hours of wind and solar electricity was curtailed in the first half – up 49 per cent year on year – according to a report released on Thursday by the Finland-based Centre... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3363147/china-wasting-large-amounts-power-captured-clean-energy-hits-bottlenecks-report-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3363147/china-wasting-large-amounts-power-captured-clean-energy-hits-bottlenecks-report-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Aug 2026 07:00:30 +0000 Huizhao Huang Huizhao Huang China is building more wind and solar capacity than the rest of the world combined, but transmission bottlenecks risk prolonging its reliance on coal, according to a report published on Tuesday by Global Energy Monitor (GEM). More than 500 gigawatts (GW) of China’s planned 1,360GW of utility-scale wind and solar projects were under construction, enough to put the country on track to meet its 2030 target to have wind and solar account for more than half of its installed power capacity by the end... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3361467/chinas-power-grid-no-longer-keeping-pace-green-energy-capacity-study-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3361467/chinas-power-grid-no-longer-keeping-pace-green-energy-capacity-study-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Jul 2026 03:00:11 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Germany plans to scale back renewable-energy subsidies in a sweeping overhaul of its funding system, as surging solar output puts growing strain on the country’s power grid. From 2027, new renewable generators should receive support “in a way that benefits both the market and the system,” according to a draft law published by the Economy Ministry late on Friday. That means rewarding projects that respond more closely to electricity demand and do not worsen grid congestion. Fixed feed-in tariffs... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3361045/germany-scale-back-renewable-subsidies-amid-power-grid-strain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3361045/germany-scale-back-renewable-subsidies-amid-power-grid-strain?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Jul 2026 09:16:34 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen Beijing has signalled unyielding conviction in its latest action plan to peak emissions within five years, as the world’s largest producer of greenhouse gases vows to bolster nuclear and green offerings while ensuring energy security for the economy and burgeoning artificial intelligence sector. The State Council, China’s cabinet, on Thursday released a five-year plan as the mission to peak its carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 enters a crucial execution period. The timeline, ultimately aimed at... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3360095/beijings-evolving-carbon-road-map-balances-climate-targets-and-energy-security?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3360095/beijings-evolving-carbon-road-map-balances-climate-targets-and-energy-security?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Jul 2026 07:34:12 +0000 Bernard Chan Bernard Chan US President Donald Trump’s negative portrayal of China’s achievements in renewable energy began at a White House meeting with oil executives on January 9 and was amplified at the World Economic Forum later that month. The story he told was shaped more by domestic politics than fact – a narrative that has lingered through subsequent debates over China’s alleged clean-energy “overcapacity”. While such rhetoric might rally support in the American Midwest, it does not withstand scrutiny. Trump’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3359838/trumps-climate-jibes-china-and-eu-just-make-him-look-out-date?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3359838/trumps-climate-jibes-china-and-eu-just-make-him-look-out-date?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Jul 2026 21:30:07 +0000 Andy Xie Andy Xie The proliferation of artificial intelligence models and the increasing parity in their performance suggest they are becoming a commodity. Soon, AI services will be priced by cost rather than the uniqueness of their model. With electricity the main cost of the services, the AI war between China and the United States is turning into a straightforward contest over electricity output and price. Open-source AI models are sprouting up like bamboo shoots in China. The American AI community has argued... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3359746/us-china-ai-war-boils-down-contest-over-electricity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3359746/us-china-ai-war-boils-down-contest-over-electricity?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Jul 2026 12:30:06 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li China has called for expanding its industrial-resource recycling in the coming years, with a focus on recovering usable materials from discarded electronics, vehicles and clean-energy products as the nation seeks to strengthen resource security. The blueprint, issued on Friday by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), frames the move as part of efforts to accelerate a shift to a green, low-carbon economy and to shore up supplies amid geopolitical pressures. “The importance of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3359357/china-unveils-recycling-push-bolster-resource-security-and-shore-green-transition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3359357/china-unveils-recycling-push-bolster-resource-security-and-shore-green-transition?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:00:06 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China is charting an ambitious five-year plan to harness nuclear and other non-fossil sources in a bid to generate half of the country’s electricity needs by 2030. Recent oil shocks have strengthened Beijing’s resolve as it juggles decarbonising its energy sector and securing future demand, including that needed for artificial intelligence. The plan, unveiled on Thursday by the National Energy Administration (NEA) and top economic planner National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), also... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3358488/china-generate-50-electricity-nuclear-and-non-fossil-sources-2030?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3358488/china-generate-50-electricity-nuclear-and-non-fossil-sources-2030?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:00:05 +0000 Sylvia Ma,June Xia Sylvia Ma,June Xia China’s green-energy costs are projected to plummet in the coming years, offering a substantial cost advantage over traditional sources, according to an industry insider. The forecast follows China’s world-leading installed power-generation capacity hitting 4.01 billion kilowatts. The latest capacity metric, released by the National Energy Administration on Thursday, is widely viewed as a key gauge of China’s ability to generate electricity and support economic activity. And the expansion of the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3358359/chinas-green-energy-costs-seen-undercutting-traditional-energy-capacity-hits-record?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3358359/chinas-green-energy-costs-seen-undercutting-traditional-energy-capacity-hits-record?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:00:15 +0000 Djoomart Otorbaev Djoomart Otorbaev The recent escalation in the Middle East has produced an unforeseen winner. The conflict has rekindled worries about logistics and energy security, prompting governments and businesses to reconsider their reliance on fossil fuels and fragile supply routes. This has sped up the move towards renewable energy. And the principal beneficiary of this shift is China. The strategic significance of the Strait of Hormuz is well understood. Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil trade passes through this... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3356958/geopolitics-complicating-green-transition-and-chinas-moment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3356958/geopolitics-complicating-green-transition-and-chinas-moment?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Jun 2026 08:30:06 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng In recent years, when extreme summer heat has seen electricity demand peak, manufacturers in southern China’s Guangdong province have asked the same question: will power shortages return? In 2021 and 2022, China’s small and medium-sized manufacturers were hit by power shortages that triggered production curbs and factory shutdowns, disrupting supply chains in sectors ranging from electronics to metals. Tight coal supply and surging overseas orders all contributed to the shortages. This summer,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3357300/chinas-green-energy-drive-shores-factories-against-el-nino-limiting-outage-odds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3357300/chinas-green-energy-drive-shores-factories-against-el-nino-limiting-outage-odds?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Jun 2026 11:00:09 +0000 Andrew Sheng Andrew Sheng Given that control over energy reinforces superpower status, the contest of the century has morphed into an intense rivalry between China, a rising “electrostate”, and the United States, the world’s hydrocarbon hegemon safeguarding its position. China recognises that electricity drives its economy. Despite being a major producer of coal, crude oil and natural gas, China remains an importer of these hydrocarbons. However, with strategic patience, through its five-year plans, the country has been... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3356042/energy-now-focus-us-china-contest-century?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3356042/energy-now-focus-us-china-contest-century?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 21:30:05 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela China is wasting a huge amount of green energy as the world grapples with an energy shortage because of the Strait of Hormuz crisis. The “wasted” wind and solar energy stems from inflexible grid management that continues to rely on coal for baseload power and stymies a clean energy expansion that could otherwise generate electricity equivalent to the needs of France, according to analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) think tank. China’s energy demand rose in the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3355954/many-wind-and-solar-power-plants-china-are-strangled-amid-global-energy-crisis-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3355954/many-wind-and-solar-power-plants-china-are-strangled-amid-global-energy-crisis-report?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:01:36 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng In a significant leap for green-energy tracking, researchers from Peking University and Alibaba Group’s Damo Academy have used AI to map hundreds of thousands of solar and wind installations across China. The initiative resulted in a first-of-its-kind national inventory designed to help coordinate the country’s ambitious green transition. By leveraging a self-developed AI model from Damo, the research team processed a massive 7.56 terabytes of satellite imagery. The algorithm identified 319,972... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/climate-and-energy/article/3354387/ai-gives-china-gods-eye-view-solar-wind-installations-data-centre-demand-booms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/climate-and-energy/article/3354387/ai-gives-china-gods-eye-view-solar-wind-installations-data-centre-demand-booms?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 13:00:07 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Beijing says it firmly opposes the European Commission’s decision to cut EU funding for clean energy projects that use Chinese inverters, denouncing the move as “unfair and discriminatory” and vowing to take action to defend the interests of its firms. “Without any substantive evidence, the European side has for the first time designated China as a so-called ‘high-risk country’ … this constitutes a smearing of China,” the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Thursday. It warned that... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3352796/china-vows-action-after-eu-cuts-funding-green-projects-using-chinese-inverters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3352796/china-vows-action-after-eu-cuts-funding-green-projects-using-chinese-inverters?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 12:28:05 +0000 Xiaofei Xu,Finbarr Bermingham Xiaofei Xu,Finbarr Bermingham The EU has taken its most direct step yet to cut Chinese clean energy hardware out of publicly funded projects, banning Chinese inverters from all EU-funded schemes in a move Brussels described as the first in a series of actions targeting high-risk suppliers. “We decided we will take concrete action right now … that has included developing guidance on restricting the use of EU funds for projects involving inverters from high-risk suppliers,” European Commission spokeswoman Siobhan McGarry said... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3352435/brussels-bans-chinese-inverters-eu-funded-power-projects-connected-european-grid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3352435/brussels-bans-chinese-inverters-eu-funded-power-projects-connected-european-grid?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 02:57:16 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg US clean energy installations are forecast to hit another record this year – and account for the vast majority of new power additions – despite facing policy opposition from the Trump administration, according to a trade industry report. The nation’s power sector is expected to add about 60 gigawatts of solar, battery storage and wind capacity in 2026, the American Clean Power (ACP) Association said in its annual market assessment published on Tuesday. That is up 20 per cent from over 50... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351745/us-green-power-growth-hit-another-record-2026-despite-trump-says-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351745/us-green-power-growth-hit-another-record-2026-despite-trump-says-report?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:59:08 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu The wind industry smells opportunity in Europe. At an expo in Madrid this week, the convention floor was abuzz as hundreds of European, American, Japanese and Korean exhibitors vied to pitch their products, knowing the continent urgently needs to shore up its energy security amid the US-Israel war on Iran. But there was one glaring absence: not a single company operating a booth was Chinese, with China’s participants only networking from the sidelines. At a time when many in Europe seek a rapid... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3351318/its-tightrope-why-europe-faces-china-dilemma-over-its-wind-power-drive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3351318/its-tightrope-why-europe-faces-china-dilemma-over-its-wind-power-drive?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:30:08 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang As the US-Israel war on Iran raises global concerns about energy security, a new report has found that the clean power sector is rapidly gaining ground and emerging as a solution for nations looking to reduce their reliance on oil and gas imports. The world passed a significant turning point in 2025 as clean power generation rose faster than global demand for electricity, preventing an increase in fossil fuel generation, according to the study by London-based energy think tank Ember released on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3350759/turning-point-clean-energy-met-100-worlds-new-power-needs-2025-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3350759/turning-point-clean-energy-met-100-worlds-new-power-needs-2025-report?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 23:01:07 +0000 Haining Gao Haining Gao – https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3350411/chinas-energy-mismatch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3350411/chinas-energy-mismatch?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 04:47:44 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Amid heightening global anxieties over energy security fuelled by the escalating conflict in the Middle East, China’s top energy regulator has pledged to accelerate the development of its hydrogen industry, hailing the fuel as a “strategic lever” to fortify national energy resilience. The National Energy Administration (NEA) called for “bold innovation” in the sector during a recent meeting reviewing the progress of hydrogen pilots and outlining future tasks, according to an official readout... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3350313/china-fast-tracks-hydrogen-strategy-scale-phase-high-stakes-energy-transition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3350313/china-fast-tracks-hydrogen-strategy-scale-phase-high-stakes-energy-transition?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:00:21 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Global efforts to diversify energy sources are set to accelerate as the US-Israel conflict with Iran inflicts an unprecedented disruption on global supplies, analysts said, even as Washington and Tehran reportedly negotiate a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. While the two sides have agreed to a two-week ceasefire, they remain at odds over details of reopening the strategic waterway. Despite the promised pause in hostilities, the conflict has already dealt a massive blow to international energy... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3349391/global-pivot-renewables-seen-accelerating-hormuz-uncertainty-upends-energy-security?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3349391/global-pivot-renewables-seen-accelerating-hormuz-uncertainty-upends-energy-security?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 02:00:11 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng China has broken ground on a 50-megawatt concentrated solar power plant in Tibet at an altitude of 4,550 metres (14,900 feet), making it the world’s highest-altitude parabolic trough solar thermal facility. The project, located in Dangxiong County, incorporates a 400-megawatt photovoltaic system and is scheduled for full operation by 2027, Xinhua reported. Preparatory digging at the site began on Monday. Global energy supplies have grown increasingly volatile in recent years, due to climate... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3349255/china-starts-work-solar-plant-built-under-extreme-conditions-amid-global-energy-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3349255/china-starts-work-solar-plant-built-under-extreme-conditions-amid-global-energy-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 10:58:07 +0000 Yujie Xue Yujie Xue China’s abundant renewable power and government support could bring a once prohibitively expensive green energy solution into the mainstream – hydrogen. Extensive access to low-cost solar and wind power could let the country produce huge quantities of hydrogen in an environmentally friendly and affordable manner. The government is also stoking demand for the zero-emission fuel, potentially creating incentives for investors to put money into the infrastructure needed for production and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/business/climate-and-energy/article/3348964/green-hydrogen-drive-may-help-china-reach-carbon-neutral-goal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/business/climate-and-energy/article/3348964/green-hydrogen-drive-may-help-china-reach-carbon-neutral-goal?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 01:00:19 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat As global supply volatility intensifies, Premier Li Qiang has called for faster development of a “new-type power system” to accelerate the green transition and expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the sector. During a three-day visit to the southwestern province of Sichuan, Li stressed the need to expand green electricity supply and optimise the energy mix to bolster security and support economic growth. He urged market players to explore new grid architectures, improve system-wide... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3348764/premier-li-qiang-pushes-ai-powered-next-gen-energy-system-amid-global-shocks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3348764/premier-li-qiang-pushes-ai-powered-next-gen-energy-system-amid-global-shocks?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 06:10:42 +0000 Andy Xie Andy Xie The Iran war’s oil shock has dramatically increased the security risk for oil-dependent countries, incentivising a turn towards renewable energy. This impact will outlast the war and oil price spikes because the world knows this war will recur. China will be the biggest beneficiary and its exports are likely to do very well this year, offsetting losses from buying higher-priced oil. A fifth of the global supply of oil and liquefied natural gas plus a third of seaborne fertilisers traditionally... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347634/oil-shocked-world-turns-renewables-china-will-reap-rewards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347634/oil-shocked-world-turns-renewables-china-will-reap-rewards?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:30:07 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Chinese stocks have emerged as outperformers in the latest oil shock, reversing their reputation as laggards, as crude takes a back seat to renewable fuels in the world’s second-largest economy. The CSI 300 Index of stocks trading on the mainland’s exchanges has dropped 3.1 per cent since the US and Israel began attacks on Iran on February 28, outperforming the S&P 500, the Euro Stoxx 50 and Japan’s Nikkei 225, which have all slid at least 4 per cent during the period. This marked a turnaround... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3347296/chinese-stocks-shake-laggard-image-amid-oil-shock-green-transition-pays?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3347296/chinese-stocks-shake-laggard-image-amid-oil-shock-green-transition-pays?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 08:15:30 +0000 Nicholas Spiro Nicholas Spiro As the war in Iran rages and the consequences of the shock to commodity markets become clearer, the vulnerability of Asia’s economies tops the list of concerns in the research reports of investment banks. The region’s reliance on energy imports from the Gulf has come under scrutiny. The facts speak for themselves. Three-quarters of the oil supplies that passed through the Strait of Hormuz before Iran effectively closed the waterway were destined for China, India, Japan and South Korea. While... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347108/china-weathering-iran-war-oil-shock-better-others-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347108/china-weathering-iran-war-oil-shock-better-others-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China is offering solar energy to Cuba, an old ally left without power amid the US oil embargo, in a show of strength for Chinese renewable-energy credentials and a sign of Beijing’s economic footprint in Latin America. Beijing’s ambassador to Cuba, Hua Xin, on Monday outlined joint energy projects in progress as part of an effort to ease a “complex power situation” in the Caribbean nation, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. “China has always maintained that Latin America and the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3346978/china-help-cuba-solar-energy-amid-us-oil-blockade-and-total-power-outage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3346978/china-help-cuba-solar-energy-amid-us-oil-blockade-and-total-power-outage?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:30:08 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Beijing has issued a central directive to dismantle the administrative walls dividing China’s electricity sector, signalling a decisive shift towards a unified national power market designed to support the country’s energy security and green transition. A decade into its power-sector overhaul, China is doubling down on market unity during the just-started 15th five-year planning period. These structural shifts are widely seen as indispensable to the nation’s 2030 carbon-peak target, as the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3343329/china-dismantle-local-power-protectionism-push-electrify-national-grid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3343329/china-dismantle-local-power-protectionism-push-electrify-national-grid?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:30:14 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu China has criticised the European Commission’s anti-subsidy probe into Chinese wind turbine maker Goldwind Science & Technology as “targeted” and “discriminatory”, warning that such measures would undermine Chinese companies’ confidence in the European market and disrupt the bloc’s green transition. “The European side’s related investigations have generalised the concept of ‘foreign subsidies’ and have many problems, such as insufficient evidence for opening cases and a lack of procedural... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3342444/china-slams-eu-probe-wind-turbine-maker-goldwind-discriminatory?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3342444/china-slams-eu-probe-wind-turbine-maker-goldwind-discriminatory?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 02:23:58 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela Tibet’s exploitable solar, wind and hydropower resources alone could theoretically meet all of China’s energy needs, government survey data suggests. According to researchers from the China Society for Hydropower Engineering and the state-owned Power Construction Corporation of China, the technically exploitable capacity of hydropower in Tibet could reach 178 gigawatts, and more than 100GW for wind power. They said the development potential of solar power could reach 10,000GW, which is... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3342334/tibets-exploitable-green-power-could-meet-chinas-energy-needs-official-survey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3342334/tibets-exploitable-green-power-could-meet-chinas-energy-needs-official-survey?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 07:02:04 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang A profound energy transformation is reshaping Shanxi, China’s traditional coal heartland, where renewable power capacity has officially surpassed coal-fired generation, marking a historic turning point for one of the nation’s most carbon-intensive economies. The central province’s installed capacity for new energy surged to 90.48 million kilowatts in 2025 – a year-on-year increase of 18.29 million kW – vaulting renewables past the halfway point to claim 55.1 per cent of Shanxi’s total... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3342241/shanxis-green-leap-renewables-surpass-coal-chinas-energy-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3342241/shanxis-green-leap-renewables-surpass-coal-chinas-energy-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:03:11 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham The European Commission has launched an in-depth investigation into Chinese wind turbine maker Goldwind Science & Technology under the foreign subsidies regulation, a tool that has previously irked Beijing. The investigation will assess whether subsidies from the Chinese state illegally boosted the company’s position in the European market. The commission said a preliminary investigation found “indications” that Goldwind “may have been granted foreign subsidies that distort the internal... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3342259/eu-launches-subsidy-probe-chinese-wind-turbine-maker-goldwind?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3342259/eu-launches-subsidy-probe-chinese-wind-turbine-maker-goldwind?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:50:11 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu The economic benefits of China’s abundant and cheap supply of electricity were recognised by US tech billionaire Elon Musk and other speakers at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday. As the United States and the European Union contemplate how to catch up, Tesla CEO Musk said the artificial intelligence (AI) industry was facing an energy bottleneck around the globe – with AI chips being produced rapidly and electricity output struggling to keep up – apart from the notable... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3340968/davos-debut-musk-highlights-key-china-advantage-ai-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3340968/davos-debut-musk-highlights-key-china-advantage-ai-race?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 07:34:46 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow China’s “infrastructure first” approach to developing its artificial intelligence industry will help unlock frontier innovation in the fast-moving technology, according to the president of Kimi model developer Moonshot AI. The country’s energy buildout had made the supply of electricity “very cheap”, which was essential for fundamental research and innovation, said Moonshot’s Zhang Yutong in Wednesday’s panel discussion on China’s “AI Plus” strategy at the World Economic Forum in Davos,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3340842/chinas-infrastructure-first-approach-major-advantage-ai-arms-race-davos-panel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3340842/chinas-infrastructure-first-approach-major-advantage-ai-arms-race-davos-panel?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 09:45:11 +0000 Luna Sun,Themis Qi,Zhang Shidong Luna Sun,Themis Qi,Zhang Shidong China’s state-owned power grid giant has pledged to increase fixed-asset investment by 40 per cent over the next five years, at a time when some analysts view electricity capacity as a strategic asset in the US-China rivalry amid soaring demand from artificial intelligence (AI) and other power-hungry industries. The State Grid Corporation of China expects the investment amount to reach 4 trillion yuan (US$574 billion) through 2030, a company record, as it accelerates efforts to build a “new-type... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3340194/ai-reshaping-us-china-tech-race-can-electricity-tilt-balance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3340194/ai-reshaping-us-china-tech-race-can-electricity-tilt-balance?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 14:00:07 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik China has developed smart power grid technology that cuts blackout recovery time to a 10th of a second, according to state media, which said the innovation was expected to play a bigger role in ensuring the safe and stable distribution of electricity worldwide. The grid protection technology enables power grid faults to be isolated and restored within a hundred-millisecond window, compared with the hours otherwise required, according to a Science and Technology Daily report on Tuesday. It also... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3339077/china-sends-01-second-blackout-recovery-technology-protect-power-grids-12-nations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3339077/china-sends-01-second-blackout-recovery-technology-protect-power-grids-12-nations?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 03:00:10 +0000 Yujie Xue,Mia Nurmamat Yujie Xue,Mia Nurmamat Wind turbines in blustery Tibet are a symbol of China’s rapid investment in renewable energy. The only problem is that much of this potential power goes to waste. Thirty per cent of Tibetan wind energy was lost in the first 10 months of last year, as production had to be paused to avoid overloading the power network. Sunny Qinghai province similarly had to curtail 16.4 per cent of its solar energy in the same period, according to China’s National Energy Administration. China is seeking to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/article/3338885/china-ai-mega-batteries-stoke-renewables-power-drive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/article/3338885/china-ai-mega-batteries-stoke-renewables-power-drive?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 01:00:15 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma China aims to expand its west-to-east power transmission network to more than 420 gigawatts (GW) by 2030, increasing the share of renewables to about 30 per cent of total electricity output as it pursues a greener transition and a more reliable power supply. The targets were outlined in guidelines issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, the country’s top economic planner, together with the National Energy Administration. In addition to strengthening long-distance transmission... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3338522/china-vows-ramp-west-east-power-output-ai-hi-tech-manufacturing-fuel-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3338522/china-vows-ramp-west-east-power-output-ai-hi-tech-manufacturing-fuel-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Jan 2026 02:00:20 +0000 Christine Loh Christine Loh China is often described today as having “overcapacity” in manufacturing. Its dominance in solar panels, batteries and wind equipment, for example, has left many observers baffled. How did a country once dismissed as undeveloped become, within a generation, so technologically developed that its success now unsettles global markets? Part of the answer lies in how we frame China’s development. What is often described as excess capacity is better understood as the outcome of an energy-centred... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3336783/arguing-about-chinas-overcapacity-overlooks-its-drive-clean-energy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3336783/arguing-about-chinas-overcapacity-overlooks-its-drive-clean-energy?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Dec 2025 08:30:09 +0000 Hiba Malik Hiba Malik In the first three quarters of this year, China added 310 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity, up 47.7 per cent year on year and accounting for 84.4 per cent of all new power installations in the country, according to the National Energy Administration. This progress is more than climate leadership or capacity building; it involves a holistic reconstruction of the energy system. China is replacing the 20th-century fossil fuel order with a 21st-century “electro-industrial order” where power... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3335658/how-china-cementing-its-central-role-architect-green-tech?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3335658/how-china-cementing-its-central-role-architect-green-tech?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 08:30:08 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela Over the Hexi Corridor, a ribbon of fertile land on the edge of the Gobi Desert blessed by the Yellow River in western China, a gleaming forest of wind turbines and solar farms stretches to the horizon. This is Gansu, China’s renewables frontier, a major source of wind and solar energy. And yet, just beyond the dunes, another giant stirs. At the Changle Power Plant, turbines roar to life as another 1-gigawatt coal unit comes online – six reactors now pulsing with the energy that could meet the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3333674/why-chinas-mega-coal-fired-power-plants-thrive-amid-green-energy-boom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3333674/why-chinas-mega-coal-fired-power-plants-thrive-amid-green-energy-boom?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Nov 2025 22:00:18 +0000 Wang Huiyao,Zhi Wang Wang Huiyao,Zhi Wang The world stands at a crossroads, amid an accelerating climate crisis, geopolitical tensions reshaping global trade and the demand from Global South nations to exercise their right to industrialise without repeating the polluting mistakes of the past. A new consensus is urgently needed that moves beyond zero-sum competition and towards collaborative solutions. The path to decarbonisation creates a trilemma of competing interests that threatens progress for all. First, Western anxieties must be... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3332346/global-green-industrialisation-initiative-can-have-win-win-win-outcome?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3332346/global-green-industrialisation-initiative-can-have-win-win-win-outcome?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 01:30:12 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu China’s energy industry has passed a new milestone, with the expansion of the Yangtze River Delta’s Beilun Power Station making it the largest thermal power station in the country by installed capacity. The plant’s coal-fired Unit Nine has commenced operations after a 168-hour full-load trial, state-owned China Energy Investment Corporation announced on Monday. That additional gigawatt of power has raised the total installed capacity of the station, located in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3331575/china-has-new-coal-fired-power-champ-despite-switch-focus-renewable-energy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3331575/china-has-new-coal-fired-power-champ-despite-switch-focus-renewable-energy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Nov 2025 04:29:51 +0000