In June and July 2023, China's heatwave led to record temperatures, showcasing vulnerabilities in energy reliance. Xinjiang recorded 52°C and nationwide air-conditioning sales surged by 40%. The reliance on renewables faltered, evidenced by low solar output due to industrial smog and stagnant wind turbines in Inner Mongolia. Hydropower generation dipped, while carbon emissions soared. Coal-powered thermal plants met two-thirds of electricity demand, with coal consumption rising by 9% from 2022. China’s dependence on fossil fuels places it at risk of environmental degradation and geopolitical vulnerability amid its industrial growth.
The illusion of a stable, renewables-led grid collapsed: in Jiangsu, solar farms sputtered at low capacity as sunlight was dimmed by weeks of industrial smog.
Faced with the prospect of power-grid failure, China had no choice but to fall back on the dirtiest tool in its energy arsenal: coal.
The heatwave was a stark reminder that, despite its world-beating solar and wind facilities, China is still tethered - almost helplessly - to fossil fuels.
As the world's largest energy consumer, China cannot simply abandon fossil fuels without jeopardizing the industrial base and social fabric that underpin its economic rise.
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