Daily on Energy: The China paradox — massive solar power additions, but coal too

UNDERSTANDING CHINA’S HUGE SOLAR ADDITIONS: China is putting up massive new numbers of solar power generation, illustrating the dichotomous role it plays in the global economy as both no. 1 emitter and leading producer and generator of renewable energy.

This has made China into the subject of scorn among U.S. policymakers for leading emissions globally and advancing new coal power generation projects, especially among Republicans who take exception to the fact that the U.S. is tightening restrictions on coal plants resulting in their shutterings while China plans dozens and dozens of new plants.

There are also few permitting barriers — something many have pointed to in order to attribute environmental degradation and poor air quality relative to the U.S. — and project developers have a much easier time getting connected to the grid, according to Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst for the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

The net effect: In the climate change context, gross additions of renewable energy count for much less if they aren’t displacing fossil fuel generation. They count for even less if coal generation and coal capacity are on the rise. The decision is a blow to the oil majors’ push to have their concerns heard by a federal court, where they are widely believed to have a higher chance of success than in state and local jurisdictions.

Witnesses, including former Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Daniel Simmons, will discuss concerns over the amount of domestic lands required for renewable energy factories and mining, EV battery disposal, and depending too heavily on China and the Congo for energy supplies as the U.S. goes through the lengthy process of building its own supply chain.

Singapore Singapore Latest News, Singapore Singapore Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Oceans of Energy startup to build solar array at North Sea wind farmA Dutch startup that has tested solar panel arrays on the open ocean says it has won its first commercial contract to install a small amount of capacity at a wind farm in the North Sea.
Source: ReutersScience - 🏆 559. / 51 Read more »

Analysis | Switching to wind and solar energy will require a lot of landAnalysis: Large-scale wind and solar farms require at least 10 times as much land per unit as coal- and natural gas-fired power plants, including the land used to produce and transport the fossil fuels, research shows.
Source: washingtonpost - 🏆 95. / 72 Read more »

US Department of Energy Expands Support For Community Solar - CleanTechnicaThis initiative has the potential to produce 150 megawatts of community solar energy -- enough to power almost 30,000 homes -- and access $5 billion in private sector financing through the Community Power Accelerator.
Source: cleantechnica - 🏆 565. / 51 Read more »

Poland's grid operator disconnects wind, solar facilities after oversupply of renewable energyAn oversupply of renewable energy forced Poland's power grid operator over the weekend to temporarily shut down its solar and wind facilities.
Source: FoxBusiness - 🏆 458. / 53 Read more »

UK, Netherlands plan cross-border power link to boost energy securityThe Netherlands and Britain plan to build what would be Europe's biggest cross-border electricity link connected to an offshore wind farm, their energy ministers said on Monday, part of efforts to boost energy security.
Source: Reuters - 🏆 2. / 97 Read more »

French Energy Union Threatens to Cut Power to Cannes Film FestivalThe union has threatened to pull the plug on several major events in the next month as part of ongoing protests over president Macron's pension reforms.
Source: THR - 🏆 411. / 53 Read more »