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

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By illuminem briefings

· 2 min read


illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Associate Press or enjoy below:

🗞️ 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

Click for more news covering the latest on renewable energy 

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