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Not sure why that should be clear? It’s not about the “regulatory environment”, which is almost irrelevant when talking about China. What’s driving this is sta

Not sure why that should be clear? It’s not about the “regulatory environment”, which is almost irrelevant when talking about China. What’s driving this is state-led development with clear goals, like reaching peak carbon by 2030, a claim which they can actually back up with developments like these.

huijzer 2y ago
I don’t think Xi cares about carbon. He just wants to build as much power as possible so that China becomes an economic powerhouse (no pun intended). Imagine what would happen in Europe or the US if power is 1/5th the price or lower. It would open many opportunities for building and innovation.
- maxglute 2y ago
  Or he cares about both, but obviously prioritizes domestic energy security. Masses complained about air quality, hence move to renewables. Otherwise no reason to build out new plants that are more efficient / less poluting if old dirty one's suffices for occasional peaking. Or try to shift to renewables so fast that there were power shortages a couple summers ago due to adverse climate effects on generation . Or stop building 100s of billiions of dollars worth coal plants abroad as part of BRI. IMO Xi/PRC is a little bit TOO magnanimous about enviroment / eliminating carbon. While US continues to increase (and now lead) in oil/lng exports, PRC is leaving good money on the table not building 1000s of coal plants abroad or exporting their centuries of thermal coal stock. That's the kind of irrational behaviour you expect from someone that cares about enviroment.
- surfpel 2y ago
  From what I’ve seen, they’ve extended their environmentalism to beyond carbon into the anti pollution in other forms. I agree regarding power cost though. That’s a huge missed opportunity in the west.
HDThoreaun 2y ago
China is all in on renewables because their domestic fossil fuel resources are extremely limited. They import close to 100% of oil and gas and significant coal right now, basically the same situation the US was in before fracking took off. Xi is worried about being cut off from energy by an American blockade.

huijzer 2y ago

I don’t think Xi cares about carbon. He just wants to build as much power as possible so that China becomes an economic powerhouse (no pun intended). Imagine what would happen in Europe or the US if power is 1/5th the price or lower. It would open many opportunities for building and innovation.

maxglute 2y ago
Or he cares about both, but obviously prioritizes domestic energy security. Masses complained about air quality, hence move to renewables. Otherwise no reason to build out new plants that are more efficient / less poluting if old dirty one's suffices for occasional peaking. Or try to shift to renewables so fast that there were power shortages a couple summers ago due to adverse climate effects on generation . Or stop building 100s of billiions of dollars worth coal plants abroad as part of BRI. IMO Xi/PRC is a little bit TOO magnanimous about enviroment / eliminating carbon. While US continues to increase (and now lead) in oil/lng exports, PRC is leaving good money on the table not building 1000s of coal plants abroad or exporting their centuries of thermal coal stock. That's the kind of irrational behaviour you expect from someone that cares about enviroment.
surfpel 2y ago
From what I’ve seen, they’ve extended their environmentalism to beyond carbon into the anti pollution in other forms. I agree regarding power cost though. That’s a huge missed opportunity in the west.

HDThoreaun 2y ago

China is all in on renewables because their domestic fossil fuel resources are extremely limited. They import close to 100% of oil and gas and significant coal right now, basically the same situation the US was in before fracking took off. Xi is worried about being cut off from energy by an American blockade.