In 2024, the Chinese mainland's renewable energy sector surged to a historic high, with newly installed capacity accounting for more than 60% of the world's total, according to a report released Wednesday by the China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute.
On track for another 280 million kilowatts of wind and photovoltaic power additions this year, the sector's growth is powered by cutting-edge innovations. Breakthroughs in smart grids, advanced materials and multi-energy integration are reshaping how clean power is generated and delivered.
Notable milestones include the world’s largest 26-megawatt offshore wind turbine going online and a jump of over 50 percentage points in the market share of N-type solar cells—a major leap in photovoltaic efficiency. Core equipment for a 300-megawatt compressed air energy storage system also hit key performance targets, while pilot projects like "Offshore Wind+" marine ranching and offshore wind-driven hydrogen production are turning heads.
"Our hydropower technology leads global development, and the Chinese mainland now accounts for over 40% of new wind and solar installations worldwide," said Zhang Zongliang, academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering. He added that this scale ensures the security of global supply chains for photovoltaic modules and wind turbines.
With more than 85% of the global market share in photovoltaic products and clean energy exports reaching over 200 countries and regions, experts say the Chinese mainland’s renewable industry is becoming the backbone of the global energy transition.
"We’ve shifted from chasing scale to focusing on high-quality growth," noted Zhang Yiguo, vice president of the China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute. He emphasized the need for integrated planning—linking power generation, grid infrastructure, load management and storage—to broaden application scenarios and boost efficiency.
Looking ahead, the Chinese mainland aims to build industrial systems that align with renewable generation hotspots, coupling clean energy with key industries to overcome consumption hurdles and turn resource advantages into competitive strengths.
Reference(s):
Report: China's new energy sector continues high-quality growth
cgtn.com
