Thomas wrote “China's focus on renewable energy technology to support its modern infrastructure only means we will be left behind in the global market.”
AI says this: “AI Overview
China's coal consumption has been a significant factor in global energy trends, with China being the world's largest coal consumer, consuming over 4 billion tons in 2023.
Here's a breakdown of China's coal use by year:
Key Trends and Figures:
2023: China's coal consumption reached a record high of over 4 billion tons, with coal-fired power generation increasing by 1.5% (158 TWh).
2022: China's coal consumption grew by 4.6% to a new all-time high of 4.5 billion metric tons, nearly 9 times higher than the United States.
2021: Coal accounted for 56% of primary energy consumption in China.”
The US on the other hand:
“U.S. coal consumption has been declining, with 425.9 million short tons consumed in 2023, a decrease from 515.5 million short tons in 2022, primarily due to the electric power sector's shift away from coal.
Here's a more detailed breakdown of U.S. coal consumption trends:
Historical Peak:
Coal consumption peaked between 2005 and 2008, with over one billion short tons used annually.
Recent Decline:
U.S. coal consumption has been steadily declining since its peak, with a significant drop in 2023.”
Here are some data points for you to consider: 50 million EV cars were sold last year in China, and gasoline sales were down 9% from 2023 to 2024. That's taking a lot of fossil fuels off the road.
31% of their energy comes from renewables. Granted, they generate electricity from coal, which you point out is correct, but I suspect coal demand will drop once renewables move higher. The same thing happened here: renewables are taking over energy production. When that happens, they'll have less coal usage, a high-speed rail network, and more EVs than the USA.
Thomas wrote “China's focus on renewable energy technology to support its modern infrastructure only means we will be left behind in the global market.”
AI says this: “AI Overview
China's coal consumption has been a significant factor in global energy trends, with China being the world's largest coal consumer, consuming over 4 billion tons in 2023.
Here's a breakdown of China's coal use by year:
Key Trends and Figures:
2023: China's coal consumption reached a record high of over 4 billion tons, with coal-fired power generation increasing by 1.5% (158 TWh).
2022: China's coal consumption grew by 4.6% to a new all-time high of 4.5 billion metric tons, nearly 9 times higher than the United States.
2021: Coal accounted for 56% of primary energy consumption in China.”
The US on the other hand:
“U.S. coal consumption has been declining, with 425.9 million short tons consumed in 2023, a decrease from 515.5 million short tons in 2022, primarily due to the electric power sector's shift away from coal.
Here's a more detailed breakdown of U.S. coal consumption trends:
Historical Peak:
Coal consumption peaked between 2005 and 2008, with over one billion short tons used annually.
Recent Decline:
U.S. coal consumption has been steadily declining since its peak, with a significant drop in 2023.”
I will stick with the US.
Hi Dave,
Here are some data points for you to consider: 50 million EV cars were sold last year in China, and gasoline sales were down 9% from 2023 to 2024. That's taking a lot of fossil fuels off the road.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/china-fuel-production-cuts-could-032421984.html
China is ramping up its renewables: https://time.com/7265783/how-china-is-boosting-renewable-energy-goals/
31% of their energy comes from renewables. Granted, they generate electricity from coal, which you point out is correct, but I suspect coal demand will drop once renewables move higher. The same thing happened here: renewables are taking over energy production. When that happens, they'll have less coal usage, a high-speed rail network, and more EVs than the USA.