China consolidated its position as the world leader in renewable energy in 2024, with a combined installed wind and solar capacity exceeding 1.4 billion kilowatts, according to data published Tuesday by the country’s National Energy Administration (NEA).
China’s installed solar power capacity increased by 45.2% last year to reach 890 million kilowatts, while its wind capacity grew by 18% to 520 million kilowatts, according to the same source.
The total electricity generation capacity stood at 3.35 billion kilowatts at the end of December 2024, up 14.6% from the previous year.
Major electricity production companies invested 1.170 trillion yuan (160 billion dollars) in generation projects, an increase of 12.1%, and 608.3 billion yuan (83.5 billion dollars) in network infrastructure (+15.3%).
The consultancy Rystad Energy, specialized in the energy sector, predicts that the solar capacity of the Asian giant will exceed 1,000 gigawatts by the end of 2026.
China has committed to reaching its peak CO2 emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060.