Xiaofei installs solar power generation

Did China install more solar in 2023?

Between March 2023 and March 2024, China installed more solar than it had in the previous three years combined, and more than the rest of the world combined for 2023. Solar capacity first surpassed wind in 2022, and the gap has grown significantly larger, thanks to the massive expansion of distributed solar.

Could solar power be China's new energy generation system?

Instead of nuclear, solar is now intended to be the foundation of China's new electricity generation system. Authorities have steadily downgraded plans for nuclear to dominate China's energy generation. At present, the goal is 18 per cent of generation by 2060.

How much solar power does China have in 2022?

The 216.9 gigawatts of solar power the country added shattered its previous record of 87.4 gigawatts from 2022. Not only does this achievement solidify China’s position as a renewable energy powerhouse but also eclipses the entire solar fleet of the United States, the world’s second-largest solar market, according to Bloomberg.

Is China ready for a new generation of renewables?

The government committed to construct 1,200 GW of renewables capacity by 2030 to support this, but China is on track to meet that goal five years early. The utilisation time at China's larger generation facilities fell last year, the data showed, indicating that capacity increases outstripped energy demand growth.

Why is China experimenting with floating solar farms?

The need for space has led China to experiment with floating solar farms, like this one in Huainan, Anhui province. (Getty: Kevin Frayer) China is installing record amounts of solar and wind, while scaling back once-ambitious plans for nuclear.

How much solar power does China have?

The numbers highlight over 216 gigawatts (GW) of solar power China built during the year. When the Asian superpower set its energy targets in 2020, aiming to achieve peak emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, most dubbed it ambitious.