China’s Future Generation: Assessing the Maximum Potential for Renewable Power Sources in China to 2050

The China’s Future Generation report shows how by embracing conservation measures and renewable energy, China can transition to an 80% renewable electric power system by 2050 at far less cost than continuing to rely on coal. As a result, China’s carbon emissions from power generation could be 90% less than currently projected levels in 2050 without compromising the reliability of the electric grid or slowing economic growth.

The report was prepared by the Energy Transition Research Institute (Entri) for WWF and uses robust computer modeling to simulate four scenarios based on today’s proven technology: a Baseline, High Efficiency, High Renewables, and Low-Carbon Mix scenario. To develop its findings, Entri examines China’s electricity supply and demand on an hour-by-hour basis through 2050 using its advanced China Grid Model.

The analysis also describes recent Chinese regulatory efforts and challenges to increasing the percentage of renewable electricity in the country, while providing a set of targeted recommendations for Chinese leaders and policy makers on energy efficiency, prioritizing low-carbon electricity supply investments, allowing price changes to reflect the true cost of service, and prioritizing collection and analysis of key power usage data.

Read the press release.