China built out record amount of wind and solar power in 2024
China built out record amount of wind and solar power in 2024
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China raced ahead building renewable energy last year, installing more wind and solar power than ever before and continuing to leave all other countries in the dust. The nation put up 357 gigawatts of solar and wind, a 45% and 18% increase, respectively, over what was operating at the end of 2023, according to China's National Energy Administration. That's akin to building 357 full-size nuclear plants in one year.
The installations meant China surpassed a goal, six years early, of having 1,200 gigawatts from renewables by 2030, a benchmark Chinese President Xi Jinping set five years ago. The scale of the advance is important because at the same time, China remains the country that currently contributes the most to climate change, relying heavily on burning coal to make electricity, cement and for manufacturing.
“While China’s overall emissions are the largest of any single country, they have recognized – at least, in part – that rapidly building renewables is essential for energy and climate security. Given the recent administration change in Washington, China is now well poised to lead the world in the energy transition,” said Daniel Jasper, senior policy advisor at Project Drawdown, a group that publicizes climate solutions.
According to Carbon Brief, China's carbon dioxide emissions, which have been rising, actually fell slightly when you compare the last 10 months of 2024 with the same time the year before. It's too early to say whether this marks an important turning point for the planet.
