China is rapidly scaling up its solar and wind energy infrastructure, accounting for nearly three-quarters of all utility-scale projects currently under construction worldwide, according to a new report from the Global Energy Monitor (GEM). With 510 gigawatts (GW) already under construction and a total pipeline of over 1.3 terawatts (TW), China is consolidating its position as a dominant force in the global energy transition. This acceleration follows years of sustained growth. As of early 2025, China’s operating solar and wind capacity has reached 1.4 TW—equivalent to 44% of the global total and more than the combined capacity of the European Union, United States, and India. In the first quarter of this year, wind and solar supplied 22.5% of the country’s electricity, overtaking thermal power capacity for the first time. The majority of China’s new capacity is coming from centralized utility-scale projects, particularly in northern and western regions such as Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia, which host nearly 40% of the country’s planned solar and wind capacity. In 2024 alone, China added 278 GW of solar and 46 GW of wind. Offshore wind is emerging as a growing component of China’s renewable energy mix. From under 5 GW in 2018, offshore wind capacity has expanded to 42.7 GW as of March 2025—more than half of global offshore capacity in construction. The technology is gaining traction in coastal provinces like Jiangsu and Guangdong, which together account for over half of the country’s installed offshore wind. These regions are also piloting initiatives to link…This article was originally published on Mongabay
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