A domestic ‘coal cushion’ ensures grid stability so China can keep exporting solar panels, batteries and electric vehicles at scale
At first glance, this looks like a step backwards for climate policy. But China’s clean-energy engine is still accelerating, adding 212GW of solar power capacity in the first six months, more than double the same period last year.
In the first half, “curtailment” – clean power that’s generated but can’t be used – rose by 6.6 per cent for solar power and 5.7 per cent for wind power. At the same time, droughts reduced hydropower output, so during peak summer demand, the system leaned on coal to keep the lights on.
Coal, in this context, isn’t a climate reversal. It’s a shock absorber. Backup plants give grid operators time and confidence to approve and connect record amounts of renewables without risking blackouts when demand spikes or when new transmission lines aren’t ready.
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