China's Energy Strategy
How China became the world's largest energy consumer, dominates clean energy supply chains, and balances growth with decarbonization.
The Energy Paradox
China is simultaneously the world's largest consumer of coal, the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, and the largest investor in clean energy. It burns more coal than the rest of the world combined, yet it also manufactures over 80% of the world's solar panels, 60% of wind turbines, and 75% of lithium-ion batteries. This paradox defines global energy geopolitics: China is both the biggest part of the climate problem and the essential supplier of climate solutions.
China's energy demand reflects its economic miracle. The country consumed 156 exajoules of primary energy in 2023, roughly 27% of the global total. Electricity demand grew 7% annually over the past decade, driven by urbanization, industrialization, and the electrification of transport. Meeting this demand while reducing emissions is the defining energy challenge of the 21st century.