Energy Archives - The Wire China

The Problem With “Overcapacity” in China’s Automotive Industry

John Paul Helveston — Sun, 08 Sep 2024 23:00:00 +0000

The debate over China’s auto exports is bedeviled by narrow definitions and mis-measurement that risks encouraging the wrong policy response.

The post The Problem With “Overcapacity” in China’s Automotive Industry appeared first on The Wire China.

The Green Leap

Brent Crane — Sun, 18 Aug 2024 23:00:00 +0000

From solar panels to electric vehicles, China dominates several of the technologies needed for the green energy transition. But can the U.S. find a way to leapfrog China and win the next generation of clean tech?

The post The Green Leap appeared first on The Wire China.

Black Prices for White Gold

Aaron Mc Nicholas — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 23:00:00 +0000

China’s largest lithium producers have warned of losses this year despite expected strong demand for the key battery ingredient.

The post Black Prices for White Gold appeared first on The Wire China.

The Solar Flood

Aaron Mc Nicholas — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 23:00:00 +0000

Chinese companies dominate the global solar industry, yet rising capacity has sent prices plummeting.

The post The Solar Flood appeared first on The Wire China.

Chinese Battery Makers Get Solid Support

Rachel Cheung — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 23:00:00 +0000

Braving the frigid cold of the Chinese winter last December, William Li, chief executive of Chinese automaker NIO, drove for 14 hours from Shanghai to the southern eastern city of Xiamen, allowing viewers to watch him via a livestream on the company’s app. His aim? To demonstrate that the latest version of the company’s ET7 […]

The post Chinese Battery Makers Get Solid Support appeared first on The Wire China.

The Great EV Glut

Luke Patey — Sun, 19 May 2024 23:00:00 +0000

The new U.S. tariffs on Chinese-made EVs are both unprecedented and largely performative since Chinese EVs haven't yet penetrated the U.S. market. The European Union, by contrast, is facing a more critical and nuanced challenge from the influx of Chinese-made EVS and is currently debating what to do about it. Can the E.U. save its auto industry and still keep its green transition going?

The post The Great EV Glut appeared first on The Wire China.

Who’s Who in the EV Battery Supply Chain

Paul Sédille — Sun, 05 May 2024 23:00:00 +0000

More than any other country, China finds itself at the epicenter of the lithium-ion battery revolution.

The post Who’s Who in the EV Battery Supply Chain appeared first on The Wire China.

Putting the Gas into Hydrogen

Katrina Northrop — Sun, 10 Mar 2024 23:00:00 +0000

Western governments fear China could take the lead in another major green energy market, but the hydrogen industry picture is far from settled.

The post Putting the Gas into Hydrogen appeared first on The Wire China.

A Vital Year Ahead for U.S.-China Climate Engagement

Herbert Crowther — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Disagreements loom on how to fund the global fight against climate change, but there’s plenty of room this year for both countries to entrench recent progress in their cooperation.

The post A Vital Year Ahead for U.S.-China Climate Engagement appeared first on The Wire China.

Breaking the Ice

Aaron Mc Nicholas — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Russia and China’s shifting relations are helping to encourage a flood of Chinese companies into the Arctic.

The post Breaking the Ice appeared first on The Wire China.

How a Battery Metals Supply Glut is Deepening China’s Dominance

Eliot Chen — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Crashing metals prices are making it hard for Western miners to justify new investments in the minerals needed for clean energy.

The post How a Battery Metals Supply Glut is Deepening China’s Dominance appeared first on The Wire China.

Ernest Scheyder on the Tough Choices around Critical Minerals

Andrew Peaple — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The journalist discusses the trade-offs involved in sourcing the minerals needed to power the clean energy transition, and how the U.S. fell behind China in producing vital resources.

The post Ernest Scheyder on the Tough Choices around Critical Minerals appeared first on The Wire China.

Energy Storage Reaches New Heights in China

Katrina Northrop — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A well-connected U.S. firm is using China as a proving ground for its technology that aims to store renewable energy.

The post Energy Storage Reaches New Heights in China appeared first on The Wire China.

The Mineral Hunt

Aaron Mc Nicholas — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

A look at the American effort to catch up on critical raw material supply by searching closer to home.

The post The Mineral Hunt appeared first on The Wire China.

China’s Coal Calculations

Rachel Cheung — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The country’s carbon emissions could enter structural decline next year, but there’s a big if.

The post China’s Coal Calculations appeared first on The Wire China.

Li Keqiang: A Premier Measurement

Aaron Mc Nicholas — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

How Li Keqiang's alternative way of assessing the health of China's economy stacks up today.

The post Li Keqiang: A Premier Measurement appeared first on The Wire China.

The Limits on China and Russia’s No Limits Partnership

Katrina Northrop — Sun, 29 Oct 2023 23:00:00 +0000

Despite the warmth on show between Xi and Putin, Beijing has been careful about how far it supports Moscow.

The post The Limits on China and Russia’s No Limits Partnership appeared first on The Wire China.

China’s Nuclear-Powered Future

Aaron Mc Nicholas — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 23:00:00 +0000

China's advances in nuclear energy have become another flashpoint with the U.S.

The post China’s Nuclear-Powered Future appeared first on The Wire China.

XPeng’s Charge

Aaron Mc Nicholas — Sun, 24 Sep 2023 23:00:00 +0000

The electric vehicle maker is expanding overseas despite growing political challenges.

The post XPeng’s Charge appeared first on The Wire China.

The Biodiesel Defect

Katrina Northrop — Sun, 25 Jun 2023 23:00:00 +0000

Twenty years ago, biofuel was seen as something of a silver bullet — a way to "green" our engines and support our farmers all at once. But the industry has been plagued by unintended consequences ever since, and the latest controversy — involving an influx of Chinese imports to the EU — is exposing broader problems in the industry.

The post The Biodiesel Defect appeared first on The Wire China.

BYD’s Big Moment

Eliot Chen — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 23:00:00 +0000

BYD’s blink-and-you-miss-it expansion in the last three years has blindsided just about everyone. Today it is the world’s largest producer of electric vehicles, the second largest producer of EV batteries, and China’s best selling car brand, displacing Volkswagen, which had held that title for at least 15 years. How did BYD become such a dominant force in the EV industry? And, perhaps more importantly, can it stay that way?

The post BYD’s Big Moment appeared first on The Wire China.

High Power Investment

Aaron Mc Nicholas — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 23:00:00 +0000

China and the U.S. are both seeing high levels of private investment in electric vehicles, but is public infrastructure development keeping pace?

The post High Power Investment appeared first on The Wire China.

Rare Earth Reshore

Luke Patey — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 23:00:00 +0000

The EU desperately wants to 'de-risk' its reliance on China, especially for rare earths — the critical minerals that are essential for today's technologies. But to accomplish that, the EU has to do a lot more than simply dig these minerals out of the ground. To turn its green aspirations into an industrial reality, the EU faces the meticulous task of building out all nodes of a long and complicated supply chain.

The post Rare Earth Reshore appeared first on The Wire China.

Virginia’s Missed Connection

Eliot Chen — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Some experts warn that the governor's decision to reject Ford and CATL's battery plant was a missed opportunity.

The post Virginia’s Missed Connection appeared first on The Wire China.

BYD’s Big International Bid

Eliot Chen — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

A look at BYD, the formidable conglomerate and China’s most successful electric vehicle maker.

The post BYD’s Big International Bid appeared first on The Wire China.

China Moves into the Gulf

Isabella Borshoff — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

With Xi's recent visit, China is competing strongly for influence in the Gulf region.

The post China Moves into the Gulf appeared first on The Wire China.

China’s Under-Used Grid

Eliot Chen — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000

A look at China’s electricity grid: how it works, who foots the bill, and how its structure leads to power crunches and expensive prices despite the relative abundance of energy in China.

The post China’s Under-Used Grid appeared first on The Wire China.

Refocusing U.S.-China Climate Relations

Michael Davidson — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Zero-sum competition between the U.S. and China holds disastrous consequences for the climate. A new model is needed.

The post Refocusing U.S.-China Climate Relations appeared first on The Wire China.

COSCO’s Many Port Calls

Eliot Chen — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000

A look at the state-owned maritime giant: how it came to be, its influence over the maritime industry, and why its reach has elicited concern.

The post COSCO’s Many Port Calls appeared first on The Wire China.

Coal Comeback?

Isabella Borshoff — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 23:00:00 +0000

Following a summer of power shortages, Beijing is sending mixed messages about the role of coal in China's energy mix.

The post Coal Comeback? appeared first on The Wire China.

Is The Sino-Russia Relationship Cracking?

Yun Sun — Sun, 02 Oct 2022 23:00:00 +0000

A careful examination of recent events should discourage any wishful thinking that Beijing is distancing itself from Moscow.

The post Is The Sino-Russia Relationship Cracking? appeared first on The Wire China.

China’s Changing Energy Trade

Eliot Chen — Sun, 02 Oct 2022 23:00:00 +0000

A look at how U.S.-China trade in energy commodities has changed this year, and what it means for the future of trade between the two countries.

The post China’s Changing Energy Trade appeared first on The Wire China.

China Goes Nuclear

Isabella Borshoff — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 23:00:00 +0000

China is poised to be a leader in next generation nuclear power.

The post China Goes Nuclear appeared first on The Wire China.

A Big Payoff from U.S.-China Climate Coordination

Jiang Lin — Sun, 11 Sep 2022 23:00:00 +0000

New research shows that China and the U.S. could both decarbonize their grids by 80 percent between now and 2035.

The post A Big Payoff from U.S.-China Climate Coordination appeared first on The Wire China.

Powering Utah, with China’s Help

Isabella Borshoff — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 23:00:00 +0000

Even the new poster-child for domestic energy innovation relies on critical inputs from China.

The post Powering Utah, with China’s Help appeared first on The Wire China.

Iron Promise

Isabella Borshoff — Sun, 10 Jul 2022 23:00:00 +0000

Iron ore is an unassuming rock, but it's processed into steel, the scaffolding of the modern world. China has long been reliant on Australia for this critical natural resource — a reliance that has never been comfortable, but was made even worse by the recent deterioration in the China-Australia political relationship. China's now urgent desire for iron ore diversification could be why British-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto is now in the awkward position of pushing ahead on a long beleaguered and nearly impossible project in Africa.

The post Iron Promise appeared first on The Wire China.

The Diplomatic Deadlock

Eyck Freymann — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 23:00:00 +0000

For decades, climate change has been framed as a crisis that the international community needs to solve — and which it could solve if world leaders would only muster the political will to cooperate and share the burden. But the bonhomie of climate conferences and climate diplomacy masked a ferociously competitive geopolitical tug-of-war. Today, with China and the United States locked in an intensifying rivalry, the geopolitical aspects of climate diplomacy are bursting into view like never before.

The post The Diplomatic Deadlock appeared first on The Wire China.

Solar Suppliers

Eliot Chen — Sun, 29 May 2022 23:00:00 +0000

A look at the current leaders of the solar manufacturing race: who they are, how they got so big, and their prospects of staying at the top.

The post Solar Suppliers appeared first on The Wire China.

Friedland’s Revenge

Isabella Borshoff — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 23:00:00 +0000

Robert Friedland says the renewable energy transition won’t be achieved without people like him digging up the critical metals needed “to electrify the world economy.” He might be right, but his decision to team up with some of China's biggest players to dig up copper in the Congo represents a conundrum for the West.

The post Friedland’s Revenge appeared first on The Wire China.

Supercharging CALB

Eliot Chen — Sun, 27 Mar 2022 23:00:00 +0000

With a Hong Kong IPO, the state-backed battery maker has ambitious plans.

The post Supercharging CALB appeared first on The Wire China.

China’s Gas Game

Isabella Borshoff — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 23:00:00 +0000

Russia wants a bigger slice of the Chinese gas market, but Beijing’s desire for supplier diversity stands in the way.

The post China’s Gas Game appeared first on The Wire China.

China Enters the Center Stage of Global Affairs

Victor Shih — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000

China can easily help Russia and its oligarchs circumvent U.S. sanctions. But should it?

The post China Enters the Center Stage of Global Affairs appeared first on The Wire China.

Laissez-Faire Lithium

Eliot Chen — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 01:00:00 +0000

Canada is allowing the Chinese acquisition of a fast-growing lithium miner, despite the mineral's strategic importance.

The post Laissez-Faire Lithium appeared first on The Wire China.

The Solar Struggle

Lili Pike — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 00:01:26 +0000

For more than a decade, the U.S. has tried to use tariffs as a way to thwart China's solar panel manufacturing industry while nurturing its own — and many analysts say it's been a disaster. But U.S.-China trade policy is never that simple, especially now. With allegations of forced labor in China's solar supply chain, President Biden faces a complicated calculus — and the clock is ticking.

The post The Solar Struggle appeared first on The Wire China.

Out with the Oil, In with the Neo-Commodities

Eliot Chen — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 00:01:11 +0000

Our infographics look at China’s role producing the commodities of the future, and the key Chinese companies that stand to gain.

The post Out with the Oil, In with the Neo-Commodities appeared first on The Wire China.

Carbon Border Adjustment is China’s Worst Nightmare

Elettra Ardissino — Mon, 13 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The EU is considering a tax on imports that would be good news for the world — and terrible news for China.

The post Carbon Border Adjustment is China’s Worst Nightmare appeared first on The Wire China.

Stalled Dreams

Sean Williams — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000

When China loaned Ethiopia more than $2.5 billion to build a railway, it was cultivating a unique relationship in Africa that it hoped would unlock enormous economic potential. But now, with the debts unpaid and Ethiopia on the brink of collapse, China's decades-old Africa strategy may be starting to change.

The post Stalled Dreams appeared first on The Wire China.

Asia Can’t Decarbonize Without China’s Help

Eyck Freymann — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Asia cannot fully decarbonize without becoming even more financially interconnected with — and dependent on — China.

The post Asia Can’t Decarbonize Without China’s Help appeared first on The Wire China.

China Must Restore Growth

Yu Yongding — Sun, 24 Oct 2021 23:00:00 +0000

China’s energy crisis and the Evergrande debacle do not pose systemic risks. But the persistent slowdown in economic growth does.

The post China Must Restore Growth appeared first on The Wire China.

China’s Energy Conundrum

Eliot Chen — Sun, 17 Oct 2021 23:00:00 +0000

Our infographics look at the reasons behind the shortage as well as its global implications.

The post China’s Energy Conundrum appeared first on The Wire China.