Comparison of Carbon Clean Energy Transition Between China and Germany: Exploring Low-Carbon Pathways for Heavy Industry Nations by University of the Arts London

This visual analysis presents a comparative study of the energy transition trajectories of China and Germany from 2000 to 2023. Focusing on their heavy industries, which encompass high-emission sectors such as steel, chemicals, and automobile manufacturing, the work highlights the challenges and progress each nation has made in shifting towards cleaner energy sources.

Through detailed visualizations, the piece captures the evolution of clean and fossil energy proportions in electricity generation. China's data reveals a gradual transition, with clean energy—dominated by wind and solar—showing a notable upward trend, yet still trailing traditional fossil fuels in 2023. Conversely, Germany demonstrates a more accelerated shift, achieving a clean energy majority by 2019, driven by advancements in wind power and a decline in nuclear dependency.

By contrasting these approaches, the work offers insights into the strategies that industrialized nations can adopt to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability. The piece underscores the importance of national contexts in shaping energy policies and aims to inspire further innovation in low-carbon transformations across global heavy industry sectors.