an ‘electrostate’ that continues to feed on coal

To understand China, it is essential to enter their philosophical roots. A constant that has marked its history is the art of thinking in the long term, of planning with decades in advance. An ideology that is deeply linked to confucionism, which prioritizes collective duty, social stability and sacrifice present for a stronger future. However, it should be noted that Confucio did not explicitly speak of political or economic strategy in the current terms, but its emphasis on meticulous planning can be glimpsed in the country’s current energy policy.

An “electrostate.” He 10% of Chinese GDP It is in clean energy, since technologies, such as electric vehicles, batteries, wind turbines and solar panels are growing at a dizzying pace. According to the Financial Timesthe objective is not simply to modernize its energy infrastructure; It is to create an “electrostate.” In other words, that its economy works almost exclusively with electricity generated from low carbon sources.

All according to the plan. The transition to an electricity -based energy model is not accidental. It is the result of a combination of state planning, mass investments and technological innovation. It all started more than 10 years two years after Xi Jinping assumed power, when he ordered the Chinese energy system to “revolutionize”. Thus they began with the strategic investments that are expected that within five years another 800,000 million dollars will be added to consolidate the electrical infrastructure, intended for ultraalta tension lines that the country already has 40 transporting solar and wind energy.

The expansion of renewables. Planning also had The expansion in renewableswhere the country leads the transition solar and wind With megaprojects. Next to it and at the same vertiginous rhythm, China has taken into account That the greater the renewable capacity, the greater the need for storage systems. The batteries have become a key piece to stabilize the electricity grid and manage the intermission of solar and wind energy, but there is still a long way to achieve the 500GW of storage necessary to completely support its renewable network. Also, like They have detailed In Financial Times, the two largest Chinese companies in the country, Catl and Byd, have allocated 5% of their income to research and development, which has allowed to drastically reduce storage costs.

An elephant in a room. Despite all this change, China continues to aggressively invest in fossil fuels. In fact, Keep building new coal plants and represent 80% of construction plants worldwide. This paradox has raised international criticism, especially for the risk of increasing global emissions while the country is presented as a leader in clean energy.

From The commercial war with the United Statesthe vulnerabilities of global supply chains have been exposed, which has led To China to reveal their plans on the control of their own coal and oil reserves as of key energy infrastructure. However, he has not stopped his projects outside because He wants to reinforce Its geopolitical influence while minimizing internal risks.

The dual strategy. China continues to invest in renewable energy for long -term electrification, while maintaining control of fossil fuels to avoid short -term interruptions. This duality has generated international criticisms that accuse Beijin of flooding the market with subsidized clean technologies and breaking their climatic commitments, as He has collected The Financial Times.

A planned future. While the rest of the world debate how to reduce emissions and ensure energy supply, China has chosen not to choose a single path. Instead, he has opted for both. And if we look at its philosophical roots, Taoism summarizes it well: opposites not only coexist, but also need. Renewable and fossils. Yin and Yang. On the energy board, China is playing with both cards at the same time.

Image | Kenueone and Palacio do Planalto, CC BY-SA 4.0

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