Coal news and updates

China coal generation share at record low in May as renewables hit new highs, analysis shows

Item 1 of 2 A general view of a coal mine, during a Huawei-organised media tour, in Yulin city, Shaanxi province, China April 24, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo

[1/2]A general view of a coal mine, during a Huawei-organised media tour, in Yulin city, Shaanxi province, China April 24, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo 

BEIJING, July 11 (Reuters) - China generated 53% of its electricity from coal in May, a record low, while a record high of 44% came from non-fossil fuel sources, indicating its carbon emissions may have peaked last year if the trend continues, according to a new analysis.

Coal's share was down from 60% in May 2023, according to the analysis by Lauri Myllyvirta, senior fellow at Asia Society Policy Institute, for specialist publication Carbon Brief.

Advertisement · Scroll to continue

Solar rose to 12% of power generation in May and wind to 11% as China added large amounts of new capacity. Hydropower at 15%, nuclear with 5% and biomass at 2% made up the rest of the non-fossil fuel based power.

The increased renewable generation led carbon dioxide emissions from the power sector, which make up some 40% of China's overall emissions, to fall by 3.6% in May.

"If current rapid wind and solar deployment continues, then China's CO2 output is likely to continue falling, making 2023 the peak year for the country's emissions," Myllyvirta wrote.