China's carbon-neutrality goal increases the urgency of meeting 100 percent of the nation's new electricity demand growth with zero-carbon sources

The report assesses a zero-carbon investment scenario for 2030 aligned with what is needed to decarbonize China's power sector by 2050, and assumes: The report assesses a zero-carbon investment scenario for 2030 aligned with what is needed to decarbonizeChina'spower sector by 2050, and assumes: According to the RMI and ETC analysis, the zero-carbon investment scenario for 2030 is economically and technologically feasible. InChina, renewables and other zero-carbon generation resources...

The report assesses a zero-carbon investment scenario for 2030 aligned with what is needed to decarbonize China's power sector by 2050, and assumes:

According to the RMI and ETC analysis, the zero-carbon investment scenario for 2030 is economically and technologically feasible. In China, renewables and other zero-carbon generation resources are or will soon be the most cost-effective way to meet growing electricity demand, enabling the shift away from new coal investments.

China's power system can also continue to operate effectively with the higher levels of renewables outlined in the 2030 scenario. The power system can manage the increased variability associated with a greater share of wind and solar by increasing interconnections between provinces and increasing grid flexibility by retrofitting existing coal and hydro generation. Market and grid reforms will also play an important role.

As it is economically and technically possible for China to meet all future growth in its power supply from zero-carbon sources, it is essential that policies, particularly the 14^th Five-Year Plan, are aligned with a zero-carbon growth objective. A clear quantitative target will enable China's wind and solar development and supply industries to achieve the economies of scale and learning curve effects which make cost reductions possible. The targets would also require policy changes from four pillars: mechanisms to incentivize investment in renewables, market and grid reforms to support flexible power, upgraded planning processs to align with renewable growth, and improved technical regulation to enhance system reliability.