China's belt & road initiative energy cooperation: International assessment of the power projects

Despite growing concerns over China's Belt & Road Initiative (BRI)'s electricity generation projects, studies analyzing the suitability of such projects to importing countries are rare. Filling this gap, this article assesses the opportunities and challenges of the BRI coal, hydro, wind, and solar power projects. To exploit the full benefits of both qualitative and quantitative approaches, this study uses Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), which enables quantitative analysis of the qualitative methods of the interviews and of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis elaborated via consultation of experts. While the BRI power cooperation is a real chance to offer cleaner and more efficient electricity generation especially in developing countries, more emphasis on sustainable development can better guide the BRI power projects.

Automated summary

This article assesses the opportunities and challenges of China's Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) in coal, hydro, wind, and solar power projects and uses the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to provide a quantitative analysis. It highlights the potential for cleaner and more efficient electricity generation in developing countries through BRI power cooperation, but emphasizes the need for a stronger focus on sustainable development to guide these projects.