China built out record amount of wind and solar power in 2024

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🗞️ Driving the news: China installed a record 357 gigawatts of wind and solar power in 2024, marking a 45% increase in solar and an 18% increase in wind capacity
• This rapid expansion allowed China to surpass its 1,200-gigawatt renewable energy goal six years ahead of schedule
• Despite this, China remains the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases due to its continued reliance on coal

🔭 The context: China’s renewable energy push is unmatched globally, outpacing all other nations, including the U.S., which installed 268 gigawatts of clean energy in 2024
• The country is also the world's leading exporter of clean energy technologies, including batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines
• Lower manufacturing costs in China have helped drive down the price of renewables, making them more competitive than fossil fuels

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: China’s clean energy expansion could mark a turning point in global emissions, with early signs of a slight decline in China’s CO₂ emissions in late 2024
• However, ongoing coal dependency threatens to offset these gains
• The shift positions China as a leader in the global energy transition, especially as U.S. climate policies face uncertainty under President Donald Trump

⏭️ What's next: China is expected to continue leading the renewable energy sector, potentially accelerating global decarbonization
• Meanwhile, U.S. clean energy projects face challenges after Trump issued executive orders pausing wind energy permits and expanding fossil fuel extraction
• The international energy landscape may shift as China advances its dominance in clean technology exports

💬 One quote: “China is now well poised to lead the world in the energy transition.” — Daniel Jasper, senior policy advisor at Project Drawdown

📈 One stat: China installed 357 gigawatts of wind and solar in 2024, equivalent to building 357 full-size nuclear plants in one year

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