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AI Powers China's Green Leap: Canada Next?
8 Apr
Summary
- China's AI wind farms generate electricity cheaper than coal.
- Envision founder Lei Zhang proposes AI energy model for Canada.
- Concerns exist over Chinese AI 'kill switch' for Canada's grid.
Massive AI-managed wind hubs bordering China's Gobi Desert are generating electricity at a significantly lower cost than coal. Lei Zhang, founder of Chinese green energy giant Envision, proposes to implement this cost-effective, AI-driven renewable energy model in remote parts of Canada.
Zhang, known for his ability to generate excitement for futuristic power concepts, highlighted China's recent achievement: renewable energy facilities are now cheaper to build than maintaining old coal plants. He asserts that AI is the essential component making these often intermittent wind systems economical and functional, enabling data-driven forecasting and millisecond-level grid balancing previously impossible for humans.
Envision's signature project in China's Inner Mongolia region, operational since July 2025, utilizes 1.4 GW of wind turbines to produce net-zero hydrogen and ammonium. This clean power is already supplying AI data centers, with plans for an 800-kilometer pipeline to transport green hydrogen to population centers, bypassing the aging transmission grid.
Zhang confirmed discussions about his plans with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in January, stating Canada is open to such collaborations. However, critics, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford, express significant security concerns. They worry that adopting Chinese AI technology for critical infrastructure could grant the Chinese government a "kill switch" over Canada's power grid, akin to fears surrounding Chinese-made electric vehicles.
Despite China's push for renewables, it continues to open new coal plants, accounting for 95% of global new coal construction in 2023 and bringing over 78 GW online in 2025. Environmental groups like Greenpeace note this dual approach, with coal serving as a security blanket while renewables expand rapidly. Greenpeace advocates for a clear timeline to phase out coal power and suggests localized renewable systems, like rooftop solar, may be more efficient than remote mega-energy centers.
