Chinese wind and solar energy to comprise over 40% of power capacity in 2024

Before the close of this year, these two sources of renewable power will break the 40% milestone

During the first half of 2024, wind and solar energy already comprised 38.4 percent of the overall installed power capacity in China, according to a recent report.

Coal-fired power capacity dropped to 38.1 percent in the country

Before the end of the year, wind and solar energy are expected to continue their growth, to the point that they will surpass 40% of the total installed power generation capacity in China.  This will represent the first time that renewable energy will exceed coal-fired capacity in the country, said its power trade association report.

China is on track to add another 300 gigawatts (GW) of these two forms of renewable power to their grid capacity before the close of 2024.  This is slightly higher than the amount added to the grid last year, which was 293 GW, according to China Electricity Council (CEC) data in their report.

Seeing strong growth from wind and solar energy in the Chinese grid

By the end of the year, there will be 1,340 GW generated by grid-connected solar and wind, which will account for over 40 percent of the total installed capacity of 3,300 GW generated by all sources, said the CEC data.

By focusing on renewable power installations, they are also expecting to be able to drive the overall non-fossil fuel energy sourced installed capacity (including hydropower and nuclear) to 1,900 GW by the close of 2024. That would represent 57.5 percent of the complete power mix.  Comparatively, that figure was at 53.9 percent by the end of 2023.

Decarbonizing the world’s biggest polluter

China rapidly rose to become the largest greenhouse gas emitter and consumer of electrical power in the world. Now, it is aiming to have 80 percent of its total energy source generated by non-fossil fuel sources by 2060. It is at that time that the country’s goal is to become carbon neutral.

During the first half of 2024, China’s combined wind and solar energy capacity had reached 1,180 GW.  Of the total 3,070 GW capacity, it accounted for 38.4 percent and was on a growth path, said data from the CEC.