Page 10 - AsiaElec Week 10 2022
P. 10
AsiaElec RENEWABLES AsiaElec
China aims to build
450GW of solar, wind
power in Gobi Desert
CHINA THE Chinese government has announced Meanwhile, China added 100.54 GW of new
ambitious plans to build up to 450GW of solar wind and solar capacity in 2021, according to
and wind capacity in the Gobi Desert and other official data, way above the government’s target
desert locations as it explores ways to meet its of 90GW.
2060 net zero target. Wind accounted for 47.57 GW of new capac-
“China is going to build the biggest scale of ity, of which 16.9 GW was offshore, while solar
solar and wind power generation capacity on added 52.97 GW during the year, the National
the Gobi and desert in history, at 450GW,” China Energy Administration (NEA) said.
National Development and Reform Commis- Chinese Vice Premiere Han Zheng said
sion (NDRC) director He Lifeng said, Reuters recently that China should utilise coal’s ‘basic
reported. guaranteeing role in energy supplies’.
Lifeng said that ultra-high voltage electricity Chinese power and steel companies are
transmission lines, as well as coal-fired power continuing to invest in coal-based production
plants, would be required to ensure the stabil- capacity at alarming rates, with 33 GW of new
ity of the power grid to support such large-scale projects started in 2021, exceeding the rest of the
renewable energy installations in the country. world several-fold, the Centre for Research on
Chinese President Xi Jinping has already Energy and Clean Air the Global Energy Mon-
committed to increasing the country’s renewa- itor said.
ble energy capacity to at least 1.2GW by 2030, There is no sign of investment in coal-based
as well as ensuring its carbon emissions peak by capacity being scaled back yet, despite the coun-
the same year. try’s carbon neutrality targets.
At the end of 2021, China had installed In its work plan for this year, which was
306GW of solar capacity and 328GW of wind released on 5 March, the NDRC said the coun-
energy capacity. Around 100GW of solar capac- try would “continue to leverage the peak-shaving
ity is currently being built in the desert area, Reu- and basic supporting role of traditional energy,
ters reported. especially coal and coal-fired power.”
P10 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 10 09•March•2022
