Electrification to drive China's net-zero goals: experts

China's commitment to electrification

China's commitment to electrification is crucial in its strides toward decarbonisation, especially in pivotal sectors like steel production, building, and transportation, experts emphasise. This strategy aligns with the country’s ambitious goal to achieve carbon neutrality, reducing its reliance on fossil fuels, China daily reported.

The Synergetic Roadmap of Carbon Neutrality and Clean Air for China 2023, unveiled in Beijing by leading institutions, highlights China's progress in replacing conventional energy sources with electric alternatives. This shift is particularly significant in reducing emissions in power supply, said Gong Jicheng, a researcher at Peking University.

Electrification involves substituting fossil fuel-based technologies with electric counterparts, notably in vehicles and heating systems. These changes, which are increasingly efficient and effective in cutting energy demand, align with the global shift towards decarbonised electricity generation, according to the International Energy Agency.

China is at the forefront of electric vehicle (EV) promotion, with substantial contributions to a cleaner transportation system. Additionally, electrification initiatives in the steel industry, like the adoption of electric arc furnaces, are poised to enhance energy efficiency and drastically cut air pollutants.

The China Electricity Council reports that electricity's share in China’s energy consumption is expected to surpass 30 percent by 2025, already exceeding the global average. Significant strides have been made in industrial and building sectors, and the transportation sector is rapidly catching up, underpinned by the world's largest EV charging network.

Yang Kun, executive vice-chairman of the CEC, asserts China's commitment to replacing coal and oil with electricity across various sectors. However, the journey is not without challenges, requiring technological advancements, substantial investments, and strategic government planning, as Luo Zuoxian from the Sinopec Economics and Development Research Institute pointed out.

The road to electrification and renewable energy generation is seen as a cornerstone in China's strategy to meet its net-zero goals, reshaping its energy landscape by 2030.