China’s Main Grid Sees Renewables Trimming Chance of Blackouts

China’s record buildout of renewables may help networks overcome weather-driven demand spikes, according to the research arm of the country’s biggest grid operator.

More than 500 gigawatts of wind and solar will be completed this year, giving clean power a 48% share in China’s total capacity — overtaking thermal plants burning coal and natural gas for the first time, the State Grid Energy Research Institute said Friday in a report. That will help meet a rebound in electricity consumption in the second half of this year and help networks handle demand spikes as heat waves push up demand.