Post #1238674
2026-04-14 09:26 UTC
@rood @notjustbikes
Talking about "China" without a year number attached to what is being said is really hard, because things change rapidly there.
In 2024, China has been deploying new coal plants at approximately the same rate as they have been decommissioning older, dirtier ones.
The new plants have very low utilization rates, and are built as swing capacity. They are also being paid as reserve, base money for the ability to jump in on demand, and then additional money if they are actually needed.
Replies (1)
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@rood@aus.social 2026-04-14 10:34
@isotopp @notjustbikes around 2015 solar peaked, but the curtailment of coal became a whole other political infighting issue. After reading some of the latest reports I see that coal curtailment became impossible and it went the other way for most of the following decade. All this despite renewables trouncing coal quite regularly. Provinces opting for new coal beyond mere back-up were basically going rogue.