16.12.2021_nib_Editorial_EnergyClimate

In the transformation of China’s energy system, one issue is paramount: energy security. The shift away from coal to renewables will not be too abrupt. The recent power crisis and almost regular local blackouts over the past few years have shown the government the need for stable change. Gas will play a crucial role in this – its share of the energy mix has been rising for years. China heats mainly with imported gas and is dependent on its suppliers, analyses Christiane Kühl. China’s solution? More gas from its partner Russia instead of its rival the US.