China Approves 80% Fewer Coal Plants in 2024

China has significantly reduced new coal-fired power plant approvals by nearly 80% in the first half of 2024, permitting only 10.3 gigawatts compared to 50.4 gigawatts in the same period last year, as reported by Greenpeace East Asia. The report highlights that China's wind and solar capacity has now surpassed coal capacity for the first time, constituting 84.2% of all new grid-connected capacity. Despite this positive trend, concerns remain about the continued reliance on coal for peak demand due to the intermittency of renewable energy sources. Analysts speculate whether this reduction in approvals indicates a permanent shift away from coal or merely a pause after a surge of previous approvals. The government has initiated plans to enhance grid connectivity and integrate more renewable energy, but challenges in transitioning from coal persist. This shift in energy policy coincides with discussions about nuclear energy as part of China's broader strategy to reduce carbon emissions.