Boston University’s Global China Initiative, part of their Global Development Policy Center, issued a report this week called “China’s Global Power Database,” gridding China’s total investment in power production around the world. Its intention appears to be to show how much carbon China is producing through their mostly coal-fired power plants, although they at least refrain from labeling this massive power production to be part of their “malign aggression.” It is otherwise useful, as it documents all of the world’s power plants financed through China’s two global policy banks and/or Chinese foreign direct investment. “The database maps these projects by estimated CO2 emissions, lender, deal type, technology, capacity and status,” they report. It is interactive, so details on each country are easily accessed. Here is the link: https://www.bu.edu/cgp/
Their summary overview in part:
Between 2000 and 2018, Chinese companies and policy banks have invested in 777 power plants overseas at 186.5 GW of generation capacity across 83 countries in the world. Of this, 106.2 GW are already online, accounting for 2% of the world’s total electrical power outside China, with the remainder planned to come online by 2030.
Altogether 40% of China’s overseas power plant capacity is in the form of coal-fired power plants; 27% is hydroelectric, and other renewable energy only accounted for 11% of the total capacity. Coal power investment is highly concentrated in Southeast Asia (40%), South Asia (31%), and Africa (16%). Brazil, Pakistan and Indonesia are the top three recipients of Chinese overseas energy investment and foreign direct investment (FDI). The U.K. is the sixth largest recipient.
China’s fossil fuel power plants are currently emitting approximately 314 million tons (Mt) of CO2 per year, which is about 3.5% of the annual CO2 emission from the global power sector outside of China. Assuming all fossil fuel projects that are still under construction or under planning come online by 2030, they will add another 211 Mt to annual CO2 emissions.