China Briefing 30 October 2025: 15th ‘five-year plan’ priorities; 2035 wind goal; ‘Vehicle-to-grid’ tech

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<h1 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Key developments</strong></h1>

<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>China’s next ‘five-year plan’</strong></h3>

<p><strong>NEW PLAN:</strong> The <a href="https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/glossary/china/index.html#section-the-communist-party-of-china" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Chinese Communist party</a> held its fourth plenum meeting, reported the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/24/chinas-plenum-has-just-finished-here-are-five-key-takeaways" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Guardian</a>, which described it as a “key meeting in the country’s political cycle and a crucial one in the development of its 15th ‘<a href="https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/glossary/china/index.html#section-five-year-plan" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">five-year plan</a>’”. China’s “five-year plans” serve as blueprints guiding the country’s economic and social development. The 15th one runs from 2026-30. While the plan will not be released until next year, the <a href="https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/202510/content_7046050.htm" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">full text</a> of the official “<a href="http://english.www.gov.cn/news/202510/23/content_WS68f9f337c6d00ca5f9a06fb2.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">adopting recommendations</a>” said a “main target” will be making “major new progress in building a <a href="https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/glossary/china/index.html#section-beautiful-china" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">beautiful China</a>”. This includes a “green production and lifestyle to be basically established [and] the carbon-peak target [for 2030] to be achieved as scheduled”, according to the text. </p>

<p><strong>TECHNOLOGY AND ‘INVOLUTION’:</strong> The Guardian’s report highlighted the “recommendations” for technology investments and a “crackdown on ‘involution’” – a reference to “fierce internal competition” that has, in the past, led to oversupply. In a “15th ‘five-year plan’ explanation” speech, Chinese president Xi Jinping said “it should be noted that the development of <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/qa-what-chinas-push-for-new-quality-productive-forces-means-for-climate-action/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">new quality productive forces</a>”, which largely relies on technology, requires “full consideration of practical feasibility”, according to the transcript published by state news agency <a href="http://www.news.cn/20251028/e15c9361fe364ba5b4f454d962694213/c.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Xinhua</a>. He also called on local officials to avoid a “rush” to develop projects, when talking about using technological innovation for “promoting a comprehensive green transformation”. </p>

<p><strong>‘GREEN’ TRANSITION:</strong> At a post-meeting <a href="http://www.news.cn/zt/ddesjsdscqthy/zgzyfbhzb/index.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">press conference</a>, Zheng Shanjie, head of the <a href="https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/glossary/china/index.html#section-national-development-and-reform-commission-ndrc" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">National Development and Reform Commission</a> (NDRC), <a href="http://www.news.cn/zt/ddesjsdscqthy/zgzyfbhzb/index.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">said</a> the “comprehensive realisation of green transformation” requires the construction and implementation of the “<a href="https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/glossary/china/index.html#section-dual-control-of-carbon" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">dual control of carbon</a>” system and the “green and low-carbon” transition of energy, as well as “industrial structure” and “production and lifestyle”. The <a href="https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/glossary/china/index.html#section-national-energy-administration" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">National Energy Administration</a> (NEA) also pledged to “focus on” building a “clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient new energy system” at a separate meeting, reported industry news outlet <a href="https://news.bjx.com.cn/html/20251028/1467138.shtml" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">BJX News</a>. Belinda Schäpe, China policy analyst from the <a href="https://energyandcleanair.org/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air</a> (CREA), commented on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/belinda-sch%C3%A4pe-%E6%9E%97%E5%AD%9D%E8%93%93-953810145_china-15fiveyearplan-greentransition-activity-7388904910702153728-Vthd/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop&amp;rcm=ACoAABWNnT8B6x1jRln5XR78g6fAqWX7hzOYn5I" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> that the commitment to build the “<a href="https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/glossary/china/index.html#section-dual-control-of-carbon" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">dual control of carbon</a>” was “expected”. She added that the “reaffirmation” of renewable expansion was an “important signal given the uncertainty of the sector&#8217;s future after the policy <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/explainer-how-chinas-renewable-pricing-reforms-will-affect-its-climate-goals/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">pricing reform</a>” came into force earlier this year. </p>

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<p><strong>EXPERT REACTION:</strong> Schäpe called the mention of “[promoting the] peaking [of] coal and oil consumption” an “important signal”, as this is the first time “such language appears in a top-level planning document”. The oil-peak target “aligns with international expectations” and the “references to ‘clean and efficient use’ and ‘orderly replacement’ suggest a managed transformation of coal’s role – focusing on retrofits, flexibility and system support rather than new capacity growth”, she added. This suggestion of a peaking for coal and oil “allows” coal consumption to “increase in the early years of the five-year period”, according to a <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/chinas-top-leaders-have-weighed-next-five-year-plan-what-myllyvirta-9nivf/?trackingId=LsT19feXRxCBbue9YMLT%2Bw%3D%3D" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> post by <a href="https://energyandcleanair.org/author/laurimyllyvirta/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Lauri Myllyvirta</a>, lead analyst from CREA. He said the peaking suggestion, although “in line with the goal of peaking [carbon dioxide] CO2 emissions before 2030”, provides “no guarantees of achieving a [CO2] reduction from 2025 to 2030, let alone starting from 2025”. The “most important question” for the next “five-year plan”, he added, is “whether China is committed to honouring the 2021 commitments: reducing carbon intensity by 65% from 2005 to 2030 and ‘gradually reducing coal consumption’” over the next five years. </p>

<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Pre-COP30 report&nbsp;</strong></h3>

<p><strong>CLIMATE REPORT:</strong> The Chinese <a href="https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/glossary/china/index.html#section-ministry-of-ecology-and-environment" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Ministry of Ecology and Environment</a> (MEE) released an annual report on “China&#8217;s policies and actions on climate change 2025” ahead of COP30, reported the Chinese media outlet <a href="https://finance.eastmoney.com/a/202510293548632049.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">21st Century Business Herald</a>. The newspaper quoted Xia Yingxian, director of the MEE&#8217;s department of climate change, saying the report “showcased” China&#8217;s “significant contributions to mitigation, adaptation, carbon markets, carbon footprint, climate policies and regulations and leading global climate governance”. </p>

<p><strong>GLOBAL COOPERATION: </strong>The <a href="https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_31850181" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Paper</a>, a Shanghai-based media outlet, reported that Xia said China “follows through” on its global climate cooperation commitments. Speaking about the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said climate change has become an “urgent issue” and – in an apparent reference to the US – added that no country can “be a deserter”, according to a video posted by <a href="https://pdpwbj.clicks.mlsend.com/tl/cl/eyJ2Ijoie1wiYVwiOjI0OTYxNyxcImxcIjoxNjk0OTUxMjE2NDgxNTc4MTUsXCJyXCI6MTY5NDk1MTQwNzkyMDA5NzMwfSIsInMiOiJmY2NhZTczNGNlNDllNjUyIn0" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">China News</a>. Vice premier Ding Xuexiang also “said that China stands ready to work with all parties to advance global green development”, reported <a href="https://english.news.cn/20251016/68c587ffe01340cf8083735e0aa847bc/c.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Xinhua</a>. China’s stance on global climate cooperation was reiterated at a G20 environmental meeting in South Africa, according to <a href="https://huanbao.in-en.com/html/huanbao-2396610.shtml" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">International Energy Net</a>. </p>

<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>China-EU climate cooperation</strong></h3>

<p><strong>FINANCE:</strong> The <a href="https://finance.eastmoney.com/a/202510293548632049.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">21st Century Business Herald</a> wrote that the MEE’s report indicated COP30 should make “positive progress” in meeting the financial targets agreed at <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-why-the-300bn-climate-finance-goal-is-even-less-ambitious-than-it-seems/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">COP29</a> – the “<a href="https://www.nrdc.org/bio/joe-thwaites/how-deliver-new-climate-finance-goal" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">aspirational</a>” target of $1.3tn a year and at least $300bn of climate finance a year by 2035. Xia said the $300bn pledge did not “fully reflect” the “capital contribution obligations of developed countries”, added the outlet. Meanwhile, the EU’s climate chief Wopke Hoekstra asked China to boost its climate-finance offering, reported European news website <a href="https://pdpwbj.clicks.mlsend.com/tb/cl/eyJ2Ijoie1wiYVwiOjI0OTYxNyxcImxcIjoxNjk1ODU5MDgyNDc0MzA1NzgsXCJyXCI6MTY5NTg1OTI2MzEyMjk3OTQ5fSIsInMiOiJiODU1OGNkYzk2M2YzOWQzIn0" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Euractiv</a>. He said “China is an upper middle income country” and “Europe just simply does not have the pockets” to provide all the needed climate finance “by itself”, according to the outlet. </p>

<p><strong>CLIMATE TIES:</strong> In a <a href="https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2025/10/27/press-statement-by-president-costa-following-his-meeting-with-chinese-premier-li-qiang/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">press release</a> following a recent meeting between Chinese premier Li Qiang and European Council president António Costa, Costa was quoted saying that “climate action has to remain [at the] top of our agendas” and that COP30 will “offer an opportunity for the EU and China to lead with ambition in order to achieve a successful outcome”. The Hong Kong-based <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3330493/chinese-premier-li-qiang-urges-eu-steer-ties-right-direction-amid-trade-discord" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">South China Morning Post</a> said Li also expressed Beijing’s willingness to work with the EU on matters including “the environment”. Costa added that “I shared my strong concern about China’s expanding export controls on critical raw materials”, urging Li to “restore as soon as possible fluid, reliable and predictable supply chains”, according to the press release. </p>

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<p><strong>EXPORT CONTROLS:</strong> The trade dispute over China’s supply of rare earths was “settled” during a meeting between US president Donald Trump and his counterpart Xi in South Korea earlier today, reported the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/30/trump-and-xi-meet-in-south-korea-for-crunch-talks-on-trade?utm_source=cbnewsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=2025-10-30&amp;utm_campaign=Daily+Briefing+Unprecedented+Melissa+Yawning+gap+on+adaptation+UK+s+climate+delivery+plan" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Guardian</a>. <a href="https://pdpwbj.clicks.mlsend.com/tf/c/eyJ2Ijoie1wiYVwiOjI0OTYxNyxcImxcIjoxNjk2NzY1NjgyNjA1MTEwODAsXCJyXCI6MTY5Njc2NTkzNDIxMDkyNzM2fSIsInMiOiI5ZmMzZjA5NzZlMDBjYjMxIn0" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Reuters</a> said China agreed to delay the introduction of the next round of export controls, but that earlier restrictions on critical minerals will remain. The rare-earth minerals “play tiny, but vital roles” in products such as cars, planes and weapons, the newswire added. The US will also lower tariffs on some Chinese imports, according to <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/trump-fentanyl-related-tariffs-china-reduced-agreement-rare/story?id=127007706" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">ABC News</a>.  </p>

<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>More wind, less coal</strong></h3>

<p><strong>COAL DECLINE:</strong> Official data showed that China’s thermal power generation – mainly from coal – dropped 5.4% in September, reported <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-20/china-s-coal-and-steel-production-shrink-again-as-demand-slumps?embedded-checkout=true" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is consulting on its new steel capacity “swap” <a href="https://www.miit.gov.cn/jgsj/ycls/gzdt/art/2025/art_93f91f015a1447a58034327bba42e71e.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">policy</a> that aims to “promote market supply and demand balance”. <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-proposes-more-stringent-steel-capacity-swap-plan-curb-overcapacity-2025-10-24/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Reuters</a> said this was a “more stringent” swapping plan than the previous one that has been paused for 14 months. Shen Xinyi, researcher from CREA, explained on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7387537944888139777-Cakf/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop&amp;rcm=ACoAAAO_tIYBBg1VEJGoi-zKm7OiLGQkK44dOuI" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> that the new programme “raises the replacement ratio to 1.5:1 nationwide” and encourages cross-regional swaps. She added the measures “signal a deeper shift: from expansion control to structural optimisation and decarbonisation”, calling it a “strategic move to restructure and rebalance China’s steel landscape”.</p>

<p><strong>MORE WIND:</strong> A new industry proposal, the &#8220;Beijing Declaration on Wind Energy 2.0&#8221;, put forward a goal for the country’s wind capacity to reach “1.3 terawatts (TW) by 2030, at least 2TW by 2035 and a staggering 5TW by 2060”, said state-run newspaper <a href="https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202510/20/WS68f5e714a310f735438b5f2a.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">China Daily</a>. The outlet called the new plan a “significant increase” from an earlier declaration, which had targeted 3TW by 2060. The same group of wind-industry players are “lobbying the government to install at least 120 gigawatts (GW) of wind-power capacity in each of the next five years, an acceleration of the country’s energy transition that would more than double output by the end of the decade”, reported <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-20/china-s-wind-industry-seeks-push-to-double-capacity-by-2030?embedded-checkout=true" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>. The official goal is to install 3.6TW of capacity for wind and solar power combined by 2035, added the outlet. </p>

<p><strong>OVERSEAS EXPANSION:</strong> After two years of talk with the UK government, Chinese wind turbine manufacturer Ming Yang announced that it wants to build a £1.5bn project in Scotland, said <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2zjmk586lo" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">BBC News</a>. European governments, however, were “increasingly wary of Chinese companies’ involvement” in offshore wind, which is a “cornerstone of northern Europe’s clean-energy strategy”, reported <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/europes-offshore-wind-sector-faces-dilemma-over-chinas-grip-sector-2025-10-23/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Reuters</a>. Exports of China’s other renewable energy products, namely, the “new three” – lithium-ion batteries, solar cells and electric vehicles (EVs) – rose nearly 40% year-on-year in September, according to official data, reported financial outlet <a href="https://www.caixinglobal.com/2025-10-20/chinas-new-three-exports-jump-nearly-40-in-september-as-consumer-goods-falter-102373439.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Caixin</a>. Separately, China “sent a clear signal that it is willing to pull the plug on subsidies” for the EV industry, said <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/china-signals-it-will-pull-plug-subsidies-evs-with-five-year-plan-exclusion-2025-10-29/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Reuters</a>. </p>

<h1 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Spotlight&nbsp;</strong></h1>

<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Q&amp;A: How China is developing ‘vehicle-to-grid’ to strengthen its electricity system</h3>

<p><em>China’s surging electric vehicles (EVs) ownership – now exceeding </em><a href="https://evcipa.org.cn/newsinfo/8535476.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"><em>25.5m</em></a><em> – is opening the door to a new technology that turns EVs into “</em><a href="http://www.news.cn/fortune/20250424/23447566ca794dcba53c0bd6c23e3436/c.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"><em>power banks</em></a><em>” to help with the flexibility of electricity supply.</em>  </p>

<p><em>Carbon Brief looks into the technology, known as “</em><a href="https://www.nationalgridus.com/electric-vehicle-hub/Charging-Basics/Vehicle-To-Grid" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"><em>vehicle-to-grid</em></a><em>” (V2G), and explains how it has </em><a href="https://finance.sina.com.cn/stock/bxjj/2025-08-06/doc-infizxpw0809388.shtml" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"><em>sparked</em></a><em> </em><a href="https://www.ndrc.gov.cn/xxgk/zcfb/tz/202504/t20250402_1396958.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"><em>interest</em></a><em> in China. The full article is available on Carbon Brief’s </em><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/qa-how-vehicle-to-grid-technology-could-boost-chinas-electricity-system/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"><em>website</em></a><em>. </em></p>

<h3 class="wp-block-heading">How can V2G help balance the grid?&nbsp;</h3>

<p>In China, EVs with <a href="https://zecar.com/reviews/bidirectional-v2h-and-v2g-ev-chargers-guide" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">bidirectional batteries</a>, when plugged into V2G-capable charging stations, are able to sell their stored electricity back to the grid in nine “<a href="https://www.ndrc.gov.cn/xxgk/zcfb/tz/202504/t20250402_1396958.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">pilot cities</a>”, including Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.</p>

<p><a href="https://ember-energy.org/people/muyi-yang/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Dr Muyi Yang</a>, senior electricity analyst at thinktank <a href="https://ember-energy.org" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Ember</a>, told Carbon Brief that a fleet of grid-connected EVs could help China achieve its broader plan to restructure its power sector towards a “<a href="https://rmi.org/insight/exploring-chinas-pathway-to-a-new-power-system/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">new power system</a>” that aims to be more flexible and responsive to power volatility. </p>

<p>Zhou Xiaohang, China clean-power project manager at the US-registered <a href="https://www.nrdc.org" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Natural Resource Defense Council</a> in Beijing, told Carbon Brief that, in the long run, V2G can help to address the <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/explainer-how-chinas-renewable-pricing-reforms-will-affect-its-climate-goals/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">curtailment</a> issue for renewable energy, which is often referred to as the “<a href="https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/glossary/china/index.html#section-xiaona" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Xiaona</a>” problem in China. </p>

<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What is the current state of V2G adoption?&nbsp;</h3>

<p>Currently, V2G has not been widely deployed in China. The cost of V2G infrastructure installation <a href="https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_23377122#:~:text=%E9%A6%96%E5%85%88%E6%98%AF%E6%88%90%E6%9C%AC%E9%97%AE%E9%A2%98%E3%80%82%E6%A0%B9%E6%8D%AE%E8%AE%A1%E7%AE%97%EF%BC%8C%E4%B8%80%E4%B8%AA%E6%8D%A2%E7%94%B5%E7%AB%99%E8%A3%B8%E7%AB%99%E6%88%90%E6%9C%AC300%2D500%E4%B8%87%E5%85%83%EF%BC%88%E4%B8%8D%E5%90%AB%E7%94%B5%E6%B1%A0%EF%BC%89%EF%BC%8C%E7%94%B5%E6%B1%A0%E6%8C%8950%E5%BA%A6/%E5%9D%97%E8%AE%A1%E7%AE%97%EF%BC%8C%E6%88%90%E6%9C%AC%E5%9C%A86%E4%B8%87%E5%85%83%E5%B7%A6%E5%8F%B3%EF%BC%9B%E6%BB%A1%E9%85%8D26%2D60%E5%A5%97%E7%94%B5%E6%B1%A0%E7%9A%84%E8%AF%9D%EF%BC%8C%E5%B0%B1%E6%98%AF150%2D360%E4%B8%87%E5%85%83%EF%BC%9B%E6%95%B4%E7%AB%99%E7%9A%84%E6%88%90%E6%9C%AC%E8%BE%BE450%2D860%E4%B8%87%E5%85%83%EF%BC%8C%E8%BF%98%E4%B8%8D%E5%8C%85%E6%8B%AC%E5%BB%BA%E8%AE%BE%E5%92%8C%E5%A2%9E%E5%AE%B9%E8%B4%B9%E7%94%A8%E3%80%82%E8%8B%A5%E8%A6%81%E5%9C%A8%E4%B8%80%E4%B8%AA%E5%9F%8E%E5%B8%82%E5%BD%A2%E6%88%90%E8%A7%84%E6%A8%A1%E5%8C%96%E7%BD%91%E7%BB%9C%EF%BC%8C%E5%88%9D%E6%9C%9F%E5%B0%B1%E9%9C%80%E8%A6%81%E5%BB%BA%E8%AE%BE%E5%8D%81%E5%87%A0%E7%94%9A%E8%87%B3%E6%95%B0%E5%8D%81%E5%BA%A7%E6%8D%A2%E7%94%B5%E7%AB%99%EF%BC%8C%E6%8A%95%E8%B5%84%E9%A2%9D%E5%8D%81%E5%88%86%E5%B7%A8%E5%A4%A7%E3%80%82">remains high</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Zhou said the success of large-scale roll out of V2G depends on whether there are enough EVs equipped with the bidirectional batteries and able to be plugged into V2G-capable charging stations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>China “already [has] <a href="https://www.163.com/dy/article/JO6NH2260541B741.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">enough EVs</a> on the road to make [V2G] possible”, she added. </p>

<p>Meanwhile, popular car brands such as BYD and Nio have <a href="https://kr-asia.com/why-china-is-betting-on-v2g-to-stabilize-its-overworked-power-grid" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">released</a> new EV models with V2G features and <a href="https://auto-time.36kr.com/p/2418716711215877" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">many more</a> are actively testing and preparing for two-way electric charging.</p>

<p>There are 30 demonstration projects going on at the moment. Shenzhen, for example, received more than <a href="https://www.nfnews.com/content/mom4Od4q6V.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">70,000 kilowatt hours</a> (kWh) of electricity from about 2,500 EVs in June.</p>

<p>Regional governments have also been working to introduce more profitable pricing systems to boost user participation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Guangdong province, in south China, <a href="https://news.qq.com/rain/a/20250519A01S5300" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">launched</a> a V2G pricing plan that is “appealing” enough for EV owners to see a profit from participating in the scheme, according to Zhou.</p>

<h4 class="wp-block-heading">What are the challenges in expansion?</h4>

<p>A large share of China’s electricity is still traded through <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/explainer-how-chinas-renewable-pricing-reforms-will-affect-its-climate-goals/#:~:text=Fishman%20is%20more%20sanguine%20about,will%20face%20%E2%80%9Cdiminishing%20returns%E2%80%9D." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">long-term power contracts</a>, which could limit incentives for <a href="https://news.cnr.cn/native/gd/20250731/t20250731_527294105.shtml" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">individual EV owners</a> to engage in power-trading. </p>

<p><a href="https://energyandcleanair.org/author/xinyish/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Shen Xinyi</a>, researcher at <a href="https://energyandcleanair.org" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air</a> (CREA), told Carbon Brief: </p>

<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>“Flexible systems like V2G and distributed solar power need a well-developed <a href="https://montel.energy/resources/blog/what-is-spot-market-power-trading" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">spot market</a> and experienced, professional players such as power retailers to truly thrive.”</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Zhou said whether V2G can be rolled out at scale also depends on the attitudes of consumers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Chinese media outlet the Paper reported that people had expressed concerns on <a href="https://www.163.com/dy/article/K19I1MEO0514R9P4.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">battery health and safety issues</a>, including whether frequent discharges could cause battery degradation.</p>

<p>In April 2024, Hui Dong, chief technical expert at the <a href="http://www.epri.sgcc.com.cn/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">China Electric Power Research Institute</a>, a research institute affiliated to the State Grid Corporation of China, <a href="http://www.epri.sgcc.com.cn/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">stated</a> that, in terms of lifespan, chemical energy storage systems, represented by lithium-ion batteries, are still “underperforming”.</p>

<h1 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Watch, read, listen</strong></h1>

<p><strong>CARBON REDUCTION:</strong> <a href="https://www.tsinghua.edu.cn/info/1166/93887.htm" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Prof Jiang Yi</a>, director of building energy research centre at Tsinghua University, explained how to “reduce carbon” on both “the side of production” and “the side of consumption” in an interview with financial outlet <a href="https://m.yicai.com/video/102883808.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Yicai</a>. </p>

<p><strong>INDONESIA’S JOURNEY: </strong>The <a href="https://chinaglobalsouth.com/podcasts/china-indonesia-energy-transition-coal-renewables/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">China Global South Project</a> aired a podcast on China’s role  in “Indonesia’s push for clean energy and more coal”. </p>

<p><strong>CLIMATE STATEMENTS:</strong> <a href="https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202510/18/WS68f2d65da310f735438b5b3e.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">China Daily</a> published a list of climate statements from prominent Chinese politicians and researchers, including Liu Zhenmin, China special envoy for climate change. </p>

<p><strong>ENERGY CHALLENAGES: </strong>In a long interview with <a href="https://pdpwbj.clicks.mlsend.com/tf/c/eyJ2Ijoie1wiYVwiOjI0OTYxNyxcImxcIjoxNjk2NzY1NjgzMTgxODI3NzksXCJyXCI6MTY5Njc2NTkzNDIxMDkyNzM2fSIsInMiOiIwYjE0ZDg4OWM4ZmM5YWVjIn0" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">21st Century Business Herald</a>, Energy Foundation China president Zou Ji said “grid integration challenges” are the most “immediate obstacle” to China’s clean-energy buildout. </p>

<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />

<h1 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center">5tn</h1>

<p class="has-text-align-center">The growth in “<a href="https://www.gep.com/knowledge-bank/glossary/what-is-added-value" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">added value</a>” – a component of economic output – of China’s “green industries” from 2020-25, in Chinese yuan ($700bn), according to <a href="https://www.21jingji.com/article/20251017/herald/61e08c7c5008dc57feae899233a0fdf7.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">21st Century Business Herald</a>. The newspaper quoted <a href="https://english.mee.gov.cn/About_MEE/Leadership/renyong/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Ren Yong</a>, chief engineer at the <a href="https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/glossary/china/index.html#section-ministry-of-ecology-and-environment" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Ministry of Ecology and Environment</a>, saying that the “added value of green and low-carbon sectors in key industries” accounted for 8.3% of GDP in 2020 and is expected to rise to 11.7% in 2025, according to the newspaper. [Previous analysis for <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-clean-energy-contributed-a-record-10-of-chinas-gdp-in-2024/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Carbon Brief</a> found clean-energy industries accounted for 10% of China’s GDP in 2024.]</p>

<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />

<h1 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>New science&nbsp;</strong></h1>

<p><a href="https://ecologyandsociety.org/vol30/iss4/art14/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"><strong>Integrating scientific data, local knowledge and expert knowledge to assess climate vulnerability in fisheries</strong></a></p>

<p><em>Ecology and Society</em></p>

<p>New research examined different approaches to assessing the vulnerability of fisheries to climate impacts, finding that using a data-driven approach can result in differing vulnerability than using a “knowledge-driven” one. The authors wrote that their results underline the “importance of engaging local knowledge to validate findings and provide contextualised interpretations for more effective management strategies”.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41612-025-01229-z" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"><strong>Mechanisms behind the rapid rise of extreme heat discomfort days in south China</strong></a></p>

<p><em>Npj climate and atmospheric science&nbsp;</em></p>

<p>The number and strength of extreme heat discomfort days in south China has undergone a “sharp rise” since 2000, according to a new study. Researchers used observational weather data and a machine-learning model to determine the atmospheric circulation patterns that cause the extreme events. They found that an area of high pressure over the Pacific Ocean weakened the summer monsoon winds.</p>

<div class="wp-block-spacer" style="height: 20px;"></div>

<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>China Briefing is compiled by </em><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/author/wanyuansong/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"><em>Wanyuan Song</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/author/anikapatel/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"><em>Anika Patel</em></a><em>. It is edited by Wanyuan Song and </em><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/author/simonevans/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"><em>Dr Simon Evans</em></a><em>. Please send tips and feedback to </em><a href="mailto:[email protected]" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"><em>[email protected]</em></a><em>&nbsp;</em></p>

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<p>The post <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/china-briefing-30-october-2025-15th-five-year-plan-priorities-2035-wind-goal-vehicle-to-grid-tech/">China Briefing 30 October 2025: 15th ‘five-year plan’ priorities; 2035 wind goal; ‘Vehicle-to-grid’ tech </a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org">Carbon Brief</a>.</p>