China Ramps Up Large Non-Fossil Energy Projects in Wake of Mid-East War

Wind, nuclear, photo voltaic and hydropower generated greater than one-third of China’s electrical energy in 2025, in keeping with authorities company statistics, with greater than half of expanded put in transmission capability now from clear sources. 

“The present Iran disaster primarily gives robust narrative for presidency to justify these investments and probably shift extra fiscal assist for the vitality tasks,” Dan Wang, Singapore-based China director at assume tank Eurasia Group, informed ENR.

Latest authorities bulletins notice new developments on two giant nuclear vitality tasks, a pumped hydroelectricity storage growth, EV charging clusters, a brand new transmission line and new gear enabling use of hydrogen vitality. 

“The looming vitality disaster because of this battle will undoubtedly inspire China to fast-track such non-fossil vitality tasks to be able to scale back its dependence on imported crude and gasoline,” Zhiqun Zhu, a Bucknell College worldwide relations professor and director of its China Institute informed ENR.

Nuclear Vegetation Transfer Ahead

Steps taken this month embrace connecting the primary two models of China’s San’ao-1 nuclear energy plant, about 2.2 MW of capability to the nationwide grid in Zhejiang Province and the Yangtze River Delta area, state owned China Common Nuclear Corp. introduced March 12. It and different state owned entities maintain 46% of shares of the undertaking firm Cangnan Nuclear Energy, with a Chinese language non-public fairness agency having a 2% stake, the primary such undertaking with non-public sector involvement. Stories cite the undertaking development price at $10.2 billion for its first part.

When accomplished, the undertaking is about to function six Chinese language-made pressurized water reactors utilizing the Hualong One design, which is able to generate 54 billion kWh of energy yearly. It would save greater than 16 million tonnes of coal and greater than 50 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions every year, China Common Nuclear mentioned.

China additionally introduced in early March an acceleration of the estimated $5.6-billion first-phase of the $16.7-billion Bailong nuclear energy plant in Guangxi province. It would function two CAP1000 reactors, described as an uprated model of the AP1000 design developed by U.S.-based Westinghouse. Building on the primary unit started in December 2025. As soon as totally operational, the primary two models would offer 20 billion kilowatt-hours of energy yearly.

On the assembly earlier this month of the Nationwide Folks’s Congress, China’s parliament, the federal government additionally revealed plans to create a brand new goal of 100 GW of pumped hydro storage to stabilize the grid because it integrates extra wind and solar energy.  

The China Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Expertise additionally introduced on March 9 4 new hydrogen vitality merchandise specializing in manufacturing, storage, and refueling to advance the sector’s large-scale industrial software. The federal government additionally revealed plans to create zero-carbon transport corridors that contain constructing hydrogen refueling and high-power EV charging “clusters” alongside main highways to exchange diesel-reliant freight.  

China’s Nationwide Reforms Growth Fee additionally introduced a plan to assemble a 3rd line on the Hami–Dunhuang 750-kV transmission system connecting Xinjiang and Gansu provinces to additionally allow extra clear energy export to different components of the nation. It’s set to complete by March 2027.