Inner Mongolia is building massive solar and wind farms, including the Dalad Banner solar array with over 3 million panels. But coal still supplies most of the region's electricity, and coal capacity continues to grow. The article explains why China's largest renewable base also remains its biggest coal producer, and what that means for grid decarbonization. Officials say coal plants are being retrofitted to ramp down to 15% capacity when renewables are abundant. But experts question whether that works in practice across the whole fleet. The piece also covers how Inner Mongolia's coal chemical industry and long term power contracts complicate the transition. Worth reading for anyone tracking real world grid decarbonization and the gap between policy targets and operational reality.
