China meets rising power demand with coal

China’s power demand rose 14 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2021. More than two-thirds of its total power demand was served by coal-fired power, while 29 percent was generated through wind and solar power, according to a new survey by climate think tank Ember. According to the survey, China’s share of global coal-fired power rose to 53 percent from 50 percent in 2019. The People’s Republic’s power consumption per capita is nearing EU levels and has increased six-fold since 2000.