China emerges as global green energy champion with two-thirds of the world's new wind and solar power plants

Almost two-thirds of the world's large wind and solar power plants are in China while a surge in renewable capacity has driven coal's share of power generation to new lows, Reuters reports.

China has 339 GW of wind and solar capacity under construction, or 64% of the global total, according to a report by US think tank Global Energy Monitor (GEM). That’s more than eight times the second-place US’s 40 GW of capacity.

The report’s authors say China’s pace of growth makes the global target of tripling renewable energy capacity by the end of 2030 “well within reach” even without increasing hydropower.

GEM analyst Aiqun Yu said absorbing the renewable energy boom remains a challenge for China’s coal-heavy grid, and that transmission line construction needs to accelerate.

Sydney-based think tank Climate Energy Finance said Beijing was also on track to meet its 2030 target of installing 1,200GW of wind and solar power this month, six years ahead of schedule.

According to an analysis published by Carbon Brief, new capacity has recently pushed renewable energy production to record levels. In May, 53% of China’s electricity was generated by coal, a record low, while 44% came from non-fossil fuels. This suggests that the country’s carbon emissions could have peaked last year if the trend continues.

“If the current rapid expansion of wind and solar continues, China’s CO2 emissions are likely to continue to fall, with 2023 being the country’s peak year,” said study author Lauri Myllyvirta, a senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute.