Renewables Can Build a Cost-Competitive Future for Power Systems, "Air Conditioning Heatwaves" Could Intensify Urban Rainfall
（2025/07/28—2025/08/03）
Author：Hao-Wang
International Energy News
1. Energy Transitions Commission Report: Renewables Can Build a Cost-Competitive Future Power System
A report from the Energy Transitions Commission (ETC) indicates that a global power system dominated by wind and solar is already cost-competitive and reliable. Global electricity demand is projected to triple by 2050, with wind and solar meeting most of the new demand. By then, generation costs in "sunbelt" countries could fall to between $30 and $40 per MWh, while costs in wind-reliant nations are expected to remain comparable to today's levels. This shift will drive electricity's share of final global energy consumption from 20% to 70%.
2. IEA: Strong Growth in Global Electricity Demand to Continue Through 2026
According to the latest report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), strong growth in global electricity demand is set to continue, with a projected increase of 3.7% in 2026, driven primarily by emerging Asian economies and data centers in the United States. The energy mix is transforming rapidly, with renewables expected to surpass coal as the largest source of electricity as early as 2025. Nuclear power generation is also forecast to reach an all-time high. This transition is expected to stabilize CO2 emissions from the power sector in 2025, followed by a slight decline in 2026. However, rising and divergent wholesale electricity prices in some regions pose a challenge to industrial competitiveness and highlight the urgent need for greater market flexibility.
3. UK's $51 Billion Nuclear Energy Project Sparks Debate
The UK government has approved the Sizewell C nuclear power station, a 3.2 GW project designed to supply electricity to 6 million homes. The initiative aims to enhance energy security, significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuels over its 60-year lifespan, cut 9 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually, and create tens of thousands of jobs. Despite its importance for meeting environmental targets, the project has sparked widespread public concern regarding nuclear safety, with many individuals expressing that the risk of potential radiation leaks is a greater worry than the issue of energy supply.
Domestic Energy News
1. "Air Conditioning Heatwaves" May Intensify Urban Downpours
Following recent short-duration, intense rainfall in cities like Beijing, a new study reveals that waste heat emitted from air conditioning units is a significant factor in intensifying these urban summer storms. Published in Atmosphere Research, the study indicates that AC waste heat exacerbates the urban heat island effect, causing air to rise more rapidly and thereby strengthening convective rainfall. In a model of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong area, AC waste heat was shown to increase the peak intensity of short-duration downpours by an average of 22% in Shenzhen. As global warming leads to more widespread AC use, the problem of urban storms is likely to worsen.
To address this, the research suggests two approaches: first, improving the energy efficiency of air conditioners to reduce waste heat, and second, integrating more green infrastructure—such as increased vegetation and cooling pavement materials—into urban planning to mitigate the urban heat island effect.
2. China's NDRC to Refine Pricing Mechanisms in Transport and Energy Sectors
China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) recently announced several measures to strengthen the domestic economy. To expand domestic demand, it plans to boost effective investment through new policy-oriented financial tools, refine the price formation mechanisms for sectors like transport and energy to improve investment returns, and encourage private enterprise participation in major national projects. On the supply side, the commission will promote industrial innovation in fields such as future energy and artificial intelligence, while managing industrial capacity to prevent low-level, redundant construction and cutthroat "involution-style" competition. Additionally, it will comprehensively strengthen the security of food, energy resources, and key industrial supply chains, which includes accelerating the development of a new energy system to enhance economic reliability.
3. Foundations Completed for All Wind Turbines at the World's Largest Wind-Solar-Storage Hybrid Power Project
All wind turbine foundations for the Oya Hybrid Energy Project in South Africa, a project involving participation from the Beijing Engineering Corporation, have now been completed. This key milestone marks the beginning of the turbine installation phase and lays a solid groundwork for the project's future grid connection. The Oya project is the world's largest wind, solar, and storage integrated renewable energy project currently under construction. Its 18 turbine foundations are located on a high-altitude plateau ridge between 1,100 and 1,400 meters, presenting significant design and construction challenges. The construction team overcame difficult terrain and frequent severe weather to complete this critical phase to high-quality standards. As a key national project for South Africa, it will provide reliable, clean energy to the local grid upon completion, effectively alleviating the country's long-standing power shortages.
(Main news sources: CCTVNEWS APP, International Energy Network, China Energy Network, National Energy Administration, China Energy News)
