For the first time ever, China’s total wind and solar energy project capacity has surpassed that of coal, marking a “historic first” and a “pivotal moment.”
In addition, during the next two years, solar power alone is predicted to exceed coal. China is currently the world’s top producer of greenhouse gases due to its massive population and extensive industrial base. For the purpose of combating climate change worldwide, advancements in its energy grid and the speed at which it can attain peak emissions are critical.
According to some scientists, China’s emissions may already be at their peak.Simeng Deng, a senior analyst at Rystad Energy, states that “both China and the global transition to renewable energy are at a crucial juncture.”
China is poised to shake off its reputation as the world’s biggest energy consumer and emitter of greenhouse gases thanks to a healthy pipeline of renewable energy projects With improvements in infrastructure, supply chains, and capacity additions expected to surpass coal in future energy output, solar energy will be crucial to this shift.” “This shift could be a significant achievement, potentially repositioning China from a coal-reliant giant to a leader in clean energy.
“After examining the most recent data from China’s National Energy Administration, ystad Energy says that, in the first half of 2024, wind and solar capacity additions in China surpassed coal by a factor of sixteen, while new coal capacity additions have decreased to just eight gigawatts. With a cumulative capacity reaching 1.38 terawatts (TW), or 150 gigawatts (GW) more than coal, solar power alone is expected to overtake coal as China’s principal energy source by 2026, according to Rystad Energy. As of June of this year, the combined capacity of wind and solar energy has overtaken coal.
“This momentum has only increased since then, with China setting a record last year with 293 GW of wind and solar installations, driven by gigawatt-scale renewable hub projects from the NEA’s first and second batches connected to the country’s grid,” Rystad Energy reports.
China’s coal-powered industry, meanwhile, is moving in the other way. The amount of coal power added last year was approximately 40 GW; however, in the first half of 2024, this amount dropped to just 8 GW. In order to reach its targets for reducing carbon emissions, China has also placed stronger limitations on new coal plants. Smaller coal plants are being phased down, existing facilities are being upgraded to minimize emissions, and stricter regulations are being applied to new projects.
