Energy Insider: Clean Energy Begins to ‘Bend’ China’s Emissions Curve, Beijing Approves New Long-Distance Power Lines

In the latest Caixin energy wrap, several significant developments in China’s clean energy sector are highlighted, focusing on shifts in emissions, key infrastructure approvals, innovations in solar energy, and advancements in battery technology. These changes collectively illustrate China’s determination to address climate change and improve the sustainability of its energy system.

A new analysis reveals that China’s carbon emissions growth has notably slowed, thanks largely to the swift expansion of clean energy production. In 2024, carbon emissions only grew by 0.7%, a marked deceleration compared to the 4.5% rise in 2023. This trend, reported by Berlin-based Agora Energiewende and Beijing-based Agora Energy China, suggests China’s emissions curve may be leveling off. Importantly, this slowdown is attributed not to economic stagnation but to substantive gains in clean energy, as confirmed by evaluations of GDP, heavy industry output, and fossil fuel generation metrics [para. 5][para. 6][para. 7].

Further evidence comes from a separate study in May 2025, which recorded a 1.6% year-on-year drop in emissions in the first quarter, again credited to clean energy growth. In 2023, China added 373 GW of new renewable energy capacity—over 50% of the entire world’s new capacity for the year. Of this, wind energy contributed 80 GW and solar 278 GW, according to government data. These investments underscore China’s growing prominence as a global renewable energy leader [para. 8][para. 9].

Infrastructure upgrades are also a priority, with Beijing recently approving two ultra-high-voltage (UHV) transmission lines designed to overcome geographical mismatches between energy generation and consumption. One new line will connect the Kubuqi Desert’s wind and solar resources in Inner Mongolia with the Jing-Jin-Ji urban area, including Beijing and Tianjin, spanning 669 kilometers at a cost of 17 billion yuan (roughly $2.4 billion). The second major line links hydropower sources in Tibet to the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, stretching 2,681 kilometers and costing 53 billion yuan. This latter project is particularly notable as it is the first joint venture between China’s two major grid operators: State Grid Corp. of China and China Southern Power Grid. UHV transmission is vital for efficiently transporting renewable energy over long distances from inland generation regions to coastal demand centers [para. 11][para. 12][para. 13][para. 14].

On the corporate front, Sinopec has inaugurated a floating solar farm in Qingdao, incorporating both seabed-mounted and floating panels. With a capacity to generate 16.7 gigawatt-hours annually, this project helps Sinopec reduce emissions by 14,000 tons per year and supports the company’s net-zero goals through renewable hydrogen production. Part of the hydrogen output will also be commercially available [para. 16][para. 17][para. 18][para. 19][para. 20].

Lastly, liquid or flow batteries are gaining attention as a means to stably integrate renewables into the grid. Though bulkier and heavier than traditional lithium batteries, flow batteries offer lower lifetime costs and increased safety due to water-based electrolytes. Their adoption is part of China’s broader initiative to expand grid-level energy storage and avoid wasting renewable output during periods of oversupply. However, lithium batteries still dominate the market due to established supply chains driven by China’s electric vehicle boom [para. 22][para. 23][para. 24][para. 25][para. 26][para. 27].

This summary outlines how China is tangibly "bending" its emissions trajectory through a combination of aggressive renewable deployment, strategic infrastructure investments, pioneering solar projects, and promising storage innovations [para. 5][para. 8][para. 11][para. 16][para. 22].