David Fishman is a senior project manager at the Lantau Group, an economic consultancy specializing in power and gas markets across the APAC region. Currently based in Shanghai, David’s areas of expertise include Chinese power market policy analysis, tariff forecasting, generation asset commercial due diligence, and green power procurement advisory for large power users. He holds a joint MA in international studies from Nanjing University and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). He is fluent in Mandarin.
The focus on China’s growth in coal-fired plants is misguided as its growth in renewable energy ensures they’ll see less use. And solar power in Shandong Province — although it is only moderately sunny — actually makes a lot of sense.
Hydro, wind, and solar power are stabilizing, and burning the dirtiest of fossil fuels is near the plateau it must reach before coal is dethroned.
Can private companies make a profit pursuing clean energy? In one eastern China province, at least so far, the answer is yes.
China needs to burn coal to end power shortages, but is the country’s ongoing electricity crisis all bad news for the climate? No, writes energy policy researcher David Fishman, because by using the crisis to implement fundamental price reforms for power markets, Beijing has actually disadvantaged coal in the future and taken a major step toward decarbonization.
As many as 20 provinces in China are suffering from power shortages, leaving businesses and millions of residents affected by power rationing. Where did this crisis come from? David Fishman, China energy policy researcher and manager at the Lantau Group consultancy, gives a brief primer.