China breaks its own record, adding over 350 GW of renewables in 2024

China accelerated the pace of renewable energy development last year, breaking its own 2023 record for newly added installed capacity. As a result, total installed solar capacity rose by 45.2% year on year, while wind capacity increased by 18%. Despite the rapid expansion of renewables, however, CO2 emissions in China rose by 0.8% year on year.

By the end of last year, China had 887 GW of solar capacity and 520 GW of wind capacity in operation. Last year, the country added 278 GW of new solar capacity and just under 80 GW of wind capacity. Reuters reported, citing the country's National Energy Administration.

The rapid expansion of solar and wind power means that China had already met its 2030 target in this area by July last year. A three-year plan for transmission grid development, unveiled last year, is intended to help integrate new renewable energy sources and meet rising electricity demand.

According to Gao Yuhe, an analyst at Greenpeace East Asia, renewables could cover all of China's new electricity demand for the first time in 2025.

"That would put China's power generation sector on track to peak its greenhouse gas emissions in 2025," Gao Yuhe added.

Overall greenhouse gas emissions rose in China last year by 0.8% year on year. China aims to peak its emissions by 2030 and then achieve climate neutrality by 2060.