China leads the world in the electrification of its economy, with electricity supplying about 30 per cent of the country’s consumed energy, according to the Irishtimes. This rate compares to roughly 20 per cent in the United States and the European Union, providing China an advantage in the race for artificial intelligence supremacy, which demands massive amounts of electricity for data centres.
Vehicle Sales And Transport Electrification
Half of all vehicles sold in China last year were electric, and electricity powers nearly all buses and trains, alongside a growing share of heavy goods vehicles. Electric trucks currently comprise 20 percent of heavy truck sales, replacing diesel, while inland waterway shipping undergoes a similar shift. This transport electrification began with the country’s high-speed rail network, which measures twice the size of the rest of the world combined.
Energy Security And Fossil Fuel Reliance
Referred to as the world’s first “electrostate,” China aims its clean energy policies primarily at bolstering energy security and decreasing its reliance on imported oil and gas, as detailed by the Irishtimes. At the same time, the energy think tank Ember noted that the country’s transition involves switching energy demand from fossil fuels to electricity and shifting how energy is produced and used throughout the economy.
National Development And Reform Commission Targets
Under a five-year plan issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration, China targets sourcing 50% of its electricity generation from non-fossil sources and raising electricity’s share in final energy consumption to 35% by 2030, according to aa.com.tr. The blueprint outlines goals for conventional hydropower capacity to reach about 410 gigawatts, nuclear power to near 110 gigawatts, and combined biomass, solar thermal, geothermal, and ocean energy to hit approximately 65 gigawatts by the end of the decade.
Pumped-Storage Hydropower And Electric Vehicle Charging
Additionally, the official plan details targets for 160 gigawatts of pumped-storage hydropower and 300 gigawatts of new energy storage capacity by 2030, alongside a nationwide electric vehicle charging network designed to incorporate more than 40 million charging stations supporting 110 million electric vehicles.
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