Achieving China‘s 2060 carbon neutrality goal depends on accelerating emissions cuts in the power sector, but current plans would only lead to 60 percent carbon-free electricity by 2035. However, dramatic reductions in wind, solar, and battery storage costs create new opportunities to reduce emissions. In this report, researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Energy Innovation find reaching 80 percent non-fossil electricity by 2035 in China is cost-effective and maintains electricity reliability with a 10 percent operating reserve margin. This level of clean electricity would also enable additional emissions reductions from building, vehicle, and industry electrification and dramatically cut pollution, avoiding 50,000 premature deaths in 2035. Policies like clean electricity targets, market and regulation reforms, and land-use policies will help China unlock these benefits.

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