China Opens Door to More New Coal Power With Minor Wording Tweak

China’s major renewable energy planning document through 2025 included a small shift in wording from previous government guidance that could pave the way for more new coal-power generation.

The 14th five-year-plan for renewable energy stipulated that renewable generation would account for more than 50% of incremental power consumption growth during the 2021-25 period. In March 2021, an official at the country’s National Energy Administration said that renewables would account for two-thirds of the increase in electricity consumption through 2025.