China installs wind and solar facilities at breakneck speed
China is often accused of building new coal-fired power plants. However, the growth in wind and solar energy is significantly faster.
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According to observers, China set a record in the installation of wind and solar power plants in the first half of 2025. The installed capacity several times exceeds that of new coal-fired power plants.
Around 264 gigawatts of new wind and solar power plants were installed in the first six months of this year, according to the research and consulting firm Wood Mackenzie. The vast majority of this is solar energy: 212.2 gigawatts were added. This is more than double the amount installed in the first half of 2014 (102.5 gigawatts) – and twice as much as has been installed in Germany over the past 25 years, as Der Spiegel reports (Paywall).
In total, over 1 terawatt of solar capacity is now installed in China, according to the International Forum for Regenerative Energies (IWR). It is the first country to reach this milestone. "The solar power generated in China in 2025 alone already accounts for about half of the annual electricity generation of all nuclear power plants operating worldwide," said Norbert Allnoch from the IWR.
The newly installed wind power capacity is 51.4 gigawatts. This is almost double the amount installed in the first six months of last year (25.9 gigawatts). For comparison, a total of 51 gigawatts of wind capacity is currently installed in Germany.
Further growth expected
This is a "breakneck increase," commented Sharon Feng, China expert at Wood Mackenzie. The consulting firm expects further growth in the coming years. The government has set a target for next year that 24 percent of electricity demand should be met by renewable energies without hydropower. In 2024, the share was 18 percent.
To achieve the goal, 741 terawatt-hours of wind and solar power are still missing, Wood Mackenzie writes. "This will lead to an expansion of wind and solar capacities by more than 750 gigawatts in the years 2025 and 2026."
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In addition to renewable energy, the country still relies on conventional energy generation. New coal-fired power plants have also come online this year. 21 gigawatts were newly installed, reported the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), based in Finland, in a study. This is the "highest figure for a first half-year since 2016."
According to CREA, installed fossil power capacity could still increase in the coming years: China aims to reach the peak of its carbon dioxide emissions in 2030. By 2035, as announced by President Xi Jinping, greenhouse gas emissions are to decrease by seven to ten percent. By 2060, the country aims to be climate-neutral.
(wpl)
