Bloomberg News: ‘Electric vehicle boom may force China to burn more dirty coal’

5) Electric vehicle boom may force China to burn more coal
Bloomberg, 20 April 2023

Expanding coal-fired power is China’s “only real option in the short term” to meet rising electricity demand, including from new energy vehicles, according to ANZ Group.

“Power shortages are likely to reemerge as the acceleration in the energy transition continues to put pressure on electricity networks,” analysts Daniel Hynes and Soni Kumari said in a report on Thursday.

China’s power market is already showing signs of strain as extremely low water levels sap hydropower generation in southern provinces. As climate change delivers more frequent and persistent heat waves, the region’s reliance on hydro — China’s largest source of clean energy — is being called into question. The government’s response has included raising domestic production and imports of coal, it’s mainstay fuel.

Full story

Share: