China’s Wind and Solar Power Capacity Surpasses 2 Terawatts

By the end of September, China had installed a total of 2 billion kilowatts (kW) of wind and solar power generation capacity, according to data released by the country's National Energy Administration (NEA). Of that total, solar power accounted for 1.31 billion kW, while wind power comprised 700 million kW.

Growth in solar capacity was particularly impressive, with a 16.5% increase in capacity over the first nine months of the year. Wind capacity also saw strong growth, with a 20.4% increase.

A senior official from the China Electricity Council stated that this achievement further cements China's leading position in the global new energy industry chain. This 2 billion kW capacity represents half of the world's total wind and solar capacity.

The growth in wind and solar power has resulted in these renewable sources generating 1.93 trillion kilowatt-hours (kWh) over the first nine months of the year. This is 193.7 billion kWh more than they generated during the same period last year. This combined output covered 64% of China's new electricity demand for the year, the NEA also reported.

However, despite this progress, China remains one of the world's largest consumers of hydrocarbons. In response to supply disruptions in the Middle East due to war-related tensions, Beijing has been encouraging domestic energy companies to boost oil and gas production. This includes PetroChina, Sinopec, CNOOC, and other producers, who have been urged to expand capacity, increase investment, and accelerate the development of national oil and gas supply bases.