China has significantly advanced its renewable energy sector, surpassing President Xi Jinping’s target of 1,200 gigawatts of wind and solar capacity six years ahead of schedule by July 2024.
This achievement marks a notable shift in China’s energy landscape, with solar power capacity increasing by 49.8% to 740 million kilowatts and wind power by 19.8% to 470 million kilowatts year-on-year.
This rapid expansion has contributed to a decline in coal power generation during the summer, suggesting that China might have reached peak emissions earlier than its 2030 target.
Despite the growth in renewables, China continues to invest in nuclear power, although its role remains minor compared to solar and wind. Meanwhile, India has also seen substantial growth in its renewable sector, with solar capacity increasing by 282% year-on-year in the first half of 2024, moving closer to its goal of 50% power generation from non-fossil sources by 2030.
