By zhanqun1 
HONG KONG, Jan. 21, 2025 – China set new benchmarks for clean energy expansion in 2024, with unprecedented growth in solar and wind power installations, according to data released by the National Energy Administration (NEA) on Tuesday. The country’s rapid renewable energy deployment has placed it well ahead of schedule to meet its carbon peaking goals by 2030.
Unprecedented Capacity Growth
Installed solar power capacity surged by an impressive 45.2% in 2024, reaching 886.67 gigawatts (GW), up from 609.49 GW in 2023. Wind power capacity also grew significantly, increasing by 18% to 520 GW. In comparison, the United States had 139 GW of solar capacity as of 2023, highlighting the scale of China’s clean energy ambitions.
China’s ambitious expansion of renewables means it has passed its 2030 clean energy capacity target a full six years ahead of schedule, a new milestone in the country’s ongoing transition away from fossil fuels.
Renewables Supplant Coal
Projections indicate that by 2030, China’s solar power capacity will exceed coal capacity, reaching 1,780 GW compared to coal’s 1,440 GW, according to the China National Petroleum Company. This shift underscores the country’s commitment to restructuring its energy grid while maintaining economic growth and energy security.
Power System Upgrades
To accommodate the rising share of renewables, China’s state planner implemented a three-year plan in August 2024 to modernize the national power system. These upgrades aim to increase grid efficiency and alleviate the strain caused by growing electricity demand.
In 2024, total installed power generation capacity reached 3.35 billion kilowatts, a 14.6% year-on-year increase. Greenpeace analysts predict that renewables could meet all of China’s new power demand growth in 2025, paving the way for the power sector to achieve peak carbon emissions by the same year.
Global Leadership Amid Contrasts
That contrasts sharply with the United States, where President Donald Trump has championed fossil fuels and pulled out of the Paris agreement on climate for a second time. As the U.S. scales back its clean-energy effort, China’s rapid expansion underscores its strategic drive for dominance of the global renewable energy market.
“China’s clean energy growth is a testament to the nation’s ability to align economic priorities with climate goals,” said Gao Yuhe, Greenpeace East Asia project leader. “By meeting new power demand growth through renewables, China sets a powerful example for other nations to follow.”
A Roadmap for the Future
China’s record-breaking progress in renewable energy installation means it is committed to both sustainability and innovation. More often than not, the country continues to move forward in reducing its dependence on coal, while spending heavily on renewables, making it a world leader that clearly fights the defeatist stand of climate change.