On Straits Times: By the end of July, China is predicted to reach a 2030 target to install 1,200 gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar capacity, said a forecast by Climate Energy Finance (CEF), a Sydney-based think-tank, on July 2. Given the scale and impact of everything China does, achieving the 1,200GW target will act like a gravitational pull, said Ms Xuyang Dong, a China energy policy analyst at CEF and the report’s lead author. “It will incentivise other great powers to go faster in this global technology and investment race-to-the-top renewable energy competition, which will be good news for the world,” she told ST. Read more

As China rapidly shifts its energy mix to new sources of power like wind and solar, its electricity grid is struggling to keep up – can deep reforms help rewire the system? Due to China’s electrification of seemingly everything – in particular, an explosion in the manufacture, export and adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) – as well as its quest to maintain economic growth, the country added 9.2 gigawatts of new thermal power capacity to the grid in the first four months of the year, while its thermal power generation increased 5.9 per cent year-on-year, according to Dong Xuyang, China energy policy analyst at Climate Energy Finance. “Given increasing electricity demand, it is critical for China to reform the power system to sustainably lower wind and solar curtailment rates, increase zero-emissions power plant utilisation rates, reform the energy trading system and improve grid connectivity ….to decouple from the need for thermal power as a backup resource to ensure energy security,” said Dong of the Sydney-based think tank. Read more

Republished on Pearls & Irritations: Australia and China’s improving diplomatic relationship, highlighted by recent high-level meetings and record trade, presents significant opportunities for green energy collaboration. With China facing overcapacity in solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles, Australia stands to benefit from redirected Chinese investments. By leveraging its abundant renewable resources and enhancing critical mineral processing, Australia can become a more appealing supplier, particularly in the wake of global trade tensions. Read more

In The Nightly: Peter Dutton’s plan to turn Australia nuclear by 2050 could carry a price tag of $100 billion, according to experts opposed to his proposal while others argue the energy source will provide “low-cost solutions” for customers. Climate Energy Finance director Tim Buckley said he was of the view the CSIRO had been conservative, suggesting Australian taxpayers were likely to be hit with a minimum $80b to $100b in capital costs for the entire project. Read more

CEF’S Xuyang Dong and Dr. Muyi Yang – Senior Policy Analyst from Ember and senior policy fellow at Asia Society Australia – published an oped in South China Morning Post on the challenges faced by Southeast Asia, now the world’s second-largest solar module producer, from potential US tariffs. With a production capacity of 70 GW by 2022, the region supplies a significant portion of US solar imports, particularly from Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Despite geopolitical tensions and increasing protectionism, Southeast Asia can leverage its strong domestic market to maintain growth. The region’s GDP was $3.8 trillion in 2023, with projected 4.6% growth in 2024. To achieve carbon neutrality by mid-century, the region needs to expand its solar capacity to over 2,100GW by 2050. By accelerating its clean energy transition, Southeast Asia can not only counter the impact of trade tensions and barriers, but also enhance energy security, attract investment, and promote sustainable economic development. Read more

Saudi Arabia has sold $11.2bn of shares in Saudi Aramco, short of the maximum sum the world’s largest oil company could have raised in a deal that was designed to win over international investors. “Investing in Saudi Aramco strengthens the strategic partnership between China and Saudi Arabia, allowing Chinese investors to access the broader Middle Eastern market,” said Xuyang Dong, a specialist on China’s energy sector at Climate Energy Finance, an Australian think-tank. Read more

On EcoGeneration: In a move hailed as a pragmatic step towards enhancing cooperation on clean energy, Australia has dropped its anti-dumping duties on imported Chinese wind turbines. In a decision that signals a thawing of trading tensions between China and Australia, it opens the door for deeper collaboration in accelerating the nation’s renewable transition. According to Tim Buckley, CEO of Climate Energy Finance, lifting the punitive trade barriers represents a positive development aligned with Australia’s ambitions to tackle the climate crisis through a collective global response. Read more

Beijing’s new 2024-25 Energy Saving and Carbon Reduction Action Plan aims to eliminate high-pollution, energy-intensive production and enhance renewable energy usage. “This plan is a significant step forward,” said Dong Xuyang, China energy policy analyst at Climate Energy Finance. With a steel-production glut and falling domestic real estate demand, the plan addresses the need to reduce excessive steel exports and lower the carbon intensity of steel production. Dong highlighted the focus on improving power storage and transforming distribution networks to better integrate new energy sources. With China’s renewable energy capacity exceeding 1.45 billion kilowatts, the plan tackles challenges like electricity generation volatility and geographical discrepancies. “This is a strategic opportunity for decarbonisation,” Dong added, noting the plan’s ambitious targets and its balance between energy security and a cleaner energy transition. Read more

Xuyang Dong talked to Carbon Brief about CEF’s new report POWER SHIFT: China installed a record 293 gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar in 2023 – pushing its total capacity to 1,050GW, according to a new report. The report, published by Australia-based thinktank Climate Energy Finance, says that, if this rate of renewables growth is maintained, then China could reach its “dual carbon” climate goals earlier than planned. Read more

Xuyang Dong talked to Carbon Brief about CEF’s new report POWER SHIFT: China installed a record 293 gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar in 2023 – pushing its total capacity to 1,050GW, according to a new report. The report, published by Australia-based thinktank Climate Energy Finance, says that, if this rate of renewables growth is maintained, then China could reach its “dual carbon” climate goals earlier than planned. Read more

A new report by Australia-based thinktank Climate Energy Finance argues that China could reach its “dual carbon” climate goals earlier than planned. Xuyang Dong talked to Carbon Brief about the findings of the report, China’s coal power output will soon peak and decline – despite rising coal capacity – thanks to the rapid rise of clean energy sources. Read more

Tim Buckley said: In the budget, we saw an excellent $21bn down payment. It is great to see that this is additional funding, not the usual political trick of rehashing previous press releases. The development of the production tax credit (PTC) model for critical minerals and green hydrogen to incentivise onshore value-adding is a very strong step forward, a clear acknowledgement that Australia can’t simply leave it to free markets when other countries have made such significant public interest interventions, undermining global trade. We particularly note the absence of any additional stimulus on “electrifying everything” and only $28m of new funding to better integrate consumer energy resources into the grid. Read more