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0 pointsleonidasrup12d ago0 comments

1 GW of renewables is not equivalent to 1 GW of nuclear or coal capacity,you need backup.

China is still building large amount of new coal power plants. In 2025, construction began on 83GW of new coal capacity – down from 98GW in 2024.

https://www.carbonbrief.org/rush-for-new-coal-in-china-hits-...

For comparision the total EU’s existing coal fleet is 109 GW.

https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/coal-is-not-making-...

The growth Chinas coal consumption is slowing down, but still growth no reduction in 2026.

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulat...

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energy12312d ago

However you may try to put lipstick on a pig, the core of the matter is unchanged. China's coal use decreased, and they barely install any nuclear compared to renewables.

leonidasrupOP11d ago

Don't present China as a green champion. China's total coal use increased, China's coal use for electricity production has decreased.

https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-coal-power-drops-in-chi...

Coal has many uses in China in comparison with US

https://www.iea.org/countries/china/coal

https://www.iea.org/countries/united-states/coal

For example China has strongly expanded in making liquid fuels from coal.

"China consumes about 380 million metric tons of coal as a feedstock for chemical and liquid fuel production, representing about 8% of the country’s total coal consumption of 4,939 million metric tons."

The amount of coal that China uses only as a feedstock for chemical and liquid fuel production is bigger than total coal consumption in Europe or total coal consumption in US.

https://thecoalhub.com/china-consumes-almost-400-mt-of-coal-...

https://asiatimes.com/2025/07/chinas-climate-gambit-bet-on-c...

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