China can now make more solar power than the rest of the world. Data released by China’s National Agency last week revealed that the country’s solar electric power generation capacity grew by a staggering 55.2 percent in 2023. The numbers highlight over 216 gigawatts (GW) of solar power China built during the year.
While the increases in renewable capacity in Europe, the United States and Brazil hit all-time highs, China’s acceleration was extraordinary. In 2023, China commissioned as much solar PV as the entire world did in 2022, while its wind additions also grew by 66% year-on-year.
nth.By the end of April 2024, China total installed wind + solar capacity reached 1129GW.If this pace sustains or accelerates in the rest of the year, China will achieve its 200GW of installed wind and solar capacity by 2030 target this year, 6 years ahead of time.Zero e
China added almost twice as much utility-scale solar and wind power capacity in 2023 than in any other year. By the first quarter of 2024, China’s total utility-scale solar and wind capacity reached 758 GW, though data from China Electricity Council put the total capacity, including distributed solar, at 1,120 GW.
Wind and solar now account for 37% of the total power capacity in the country, an 8% increase from 2022, and widely expected to surpass coal capacity, which is 39% of the total right now, in 2024. Cumulative annual utility-scale solar & wind power capacity in China, in gigawatts (GW)
lineChina’s coal power generation could peak well before 2030, then plateau and declineChina will likely reach its 14th Five Year Plan (F P) 2030 target of 1,200 gigawatts (GW) of installed solar and wind capacity six years arly.By the end of CY2023, China’s total installed wind + solar capacity reached 1050GW.During