How China's Electricity Sector Really Works, with Prof Michael Pollitt (Cambridge)

China is already central to the global clean energy story. It dominates renewable technology manufacturing, leads the world on EVs and batteries, and is often described as the emerging “electrostate”. But we tend to hear much less about China’s own electricity system. So how does it work? Why has electricity been so important to China’s economic growth? And what can the UK and Europe learn from the way China is reforming its power markets? This week, Professor Michael Pollitt from Cambridge University joins host Sulaiman Ilyas-Jarrett to unpack the past, present and future of China’s electricity system. They discuss the scale of Chinese power demand, the role of provincial electricity markets, how China combines state ownership with competition, the politics of coal and renewables, and why China may become one of the most important testing grounds for the future of electricity market design. Keywords: China | Electricity Markets | Electrification | Renewables | Energy Security | Power Systems | Clean Energy | Energy Transition | Market Reform |