THE SCALE OF THE CHALLENGE

China's three biggest power firms emit more carbon than Britain, says report; Greenpeace report names top three polluters and calls for tax on coal to improve efficiency and encourage switch to renewables
Tania Branigan, July 28, 2009 (UK Guardian)

"China’s three biggest power firms produced more greenhouse gas emissions last year than the whole of Britain, according to [Polluting Power: Ranking China’s Power Companies, from Greenpeace]…

"The group warned that inefficient plants and the country's heavy reliance on coal are hindering efforts to tackle climate change. While China's emissions per capita remain far below those of developed countries, the country as a whole has surpassed the United States to become the world's largest emitter."

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"Greenpeace said the top 10 companies, which provided almost 60% of China's total electricity last year, burned 20% of China's coal…The efficiency of Chinese power generation compares unfavourably with other countries. In Japan, 418 grams of carbon dioxide are emitted per kilowatt hour and in the US, the equivalent figure is 625 grams. But most of the top 10 firms in China produce 752 grams of CO2…

"…China closed down 54.07 gigawatt of the least efficient coal-fired plants over the last three and a half years — more than the total electricity installed capacity of Australia…[Greenpeace] urged power firms to phase out all inefficient coal-fired plants under 100 megawatt by 2012…Firms are already turning to renewable energy and by the end of last year Guodian had installed 2.88 gigawatt of wind power; almost 24% of China's total and enough to make it the biggest wind energy firm in Asia…"

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"[But] only three of the top 10 produced 10% or more of their energy from renewable sources. The vast majority relied heavily on hydropower…[Eight do not] produce [the required] 3% of energy from other renewable sources by 2010…Greenpeace urged the Chinese government to impose energy and environment taxes on coal…[encourage] efficiency…[and] renewable sources…[and] called for a doubling of the national renewable energy target to 30% by 2020 and for stricter efficiency standards for coal-fired power stations.

"The State Council, China's cabinet, is currently drawing up plans for a massive "new energy" programme to cut emissions and ensure energy security. Reports in the domestic media and from foreign diplomats suggest the next decade could see between 1.4 trillion (US$200 bn) and 4.5 trillion yuan (US$600bn) investment in projects ranging from nuclear power, low carbon transport and clean coal technology to super-efficient electric grids…[E]xperts warn that de-carbonising the energy supply must happen fast, given the massive toll on China's environment…"