China's Renewable Energy Transition: Balancing Emissions Reduction with Sustainable Transformation

A new study has highlighted the crucial measures China must take to achieve its net-zero emission target. Researchers from Tsinghua University have emphasized the need for immediate cessation of investments in new coal-fired power plants, but worry that the removal of coal power from China's energy system may hinder the electrification of society and impact the power system's adequacy beyond 2050. The study reveals that implementing stricter coal-power capacity controls without sufficient renewable-energy buffers will lead to reliance on backstop technologies. To secure benefits, renewable-energy costs must decrease by an additional 14%-34% by 2030 and 55%-59% by 2060.

Key Takeaways:

• Implementing immediate cessation of investments in new coal-fired power plants is crucial for China to achieve net-zero emission, but a lack of systematic evaluations regarding the removal of coal power from China's energy system raises potential concerns around balancing emission reductions and sustainable transformation.
• The study reveals that implementing stricter coal-power capacity controls without sufficient renewable-energy buffers will lead to significant reliance on backstop technologies.
• China must deploy renewable energy at a pace exceeding the current rate to achieve complementarity with coal-power control policies.
• Reducing CO2 emissions in power systems is crucial for China in achieving its net-zero emission target.
• The results indicate the benefits of combining low-cost renewable energy and coal-power control strategies for achieving additional emissions reductions and cost savings.
• Lower-cost renewable energy and coal-power control strategies can secure additional emissions reductions and cost savings.
• China's energy security is at risk due to coal-power control policies without sufficient renewable-energy buffers.
• The study emphasizes the importance of implementing supporting measures when implementing coal-power control policies.

Statistics:

• China aims to achieve net-zero emission by controlling coal power expansion yields immediate emission-reduction benefits.
• Renewable-energy deployment must significantly exceed the current rate to 14%-34% by 2030 and 55%-59% by 2060 to achieve complementarity with coal-power control policies.
• Implementing stricter coal-power capacity controls without sufficient renewable-energy buffers will lead to a significant reliance on backstop technologies.
• CO2 emissions in power systems must be reduced to secure China's net-zero emission target.
• Renewable-energy costs must decrease by an additional 14%-34% by 2030 and 55%-59% by 2060 to secure benefits.
• China's power system adequacy will be impacted beyond 2050 if coal-power control policies are implemented without sufficient renewable-energy buffers.

Sources:

• Nexus, 2025, 2(3): 100081
• https://doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.ynexs.2025.100081
• Ministry of Science And Technology of The People's Republic of China
• Ordos-tsinghua Innovative $ Collaborative Research Program in Carbon Neutrality
• National Natural Science Foundation of China
• Tsinghua University
• State Key Laboratory of Regional Environment and Sustainability, School of Environment, Tsinghua University
• People's Republic of China
• NewsRx LLC
• Ecology, Environment & Conservation
• VerticalNews
• Beijing, People's Republic of China