China sees renewables as a source of energy security and not just only to reduce carbon emission.[7]China''s Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Air Pollution issued by China''s State Council in September 2013, illustrates the government''s desire to increase the share of renewables in China''s energy mix.[8] Unlike oil, coal and gas, the supplies of which are finite and subject to geopolitical tensions, renewable energy systems can be built and used wherever there is sufficient water, wind, and sun.[9]
Renewable electricity generation in China by source in TWh:
As of year end 2021 hydroelectric power remains by far the largest component of renewable electricity production at 1,340 TWh. Wind power provided the next largest share with 655 TWh, followed by solar at 327 TWh, subsequent to rapid growth from a low base of just 152 GWh in 2008. The overall share of electricity generated from renewable sources based on the figures in the above table has grown from a little over 17% in 2008 to a little over 27.7% by 2021. Solar and wind power continue to grow at a rapid pace.
By the end of 2019, the country had a total capacity of 790 GW[23] of renewable power, mainly from hydroelectric, solar and wind power. By the end of 2019, China''s hydropower capacity reached 356 GW.[24] China''s installed capacity of solar power reached 252 GW and wind power capacity was 282 GW, as of 2020.[25][26]
By 2020, installed power for hydropower, wind, solar and biomass had increased to 385 GW, 299 GW, 282 GW and 35.34 GW, respectively.[1]
As of 2020, China had more than 150 dams with generating capacity of more than 300 megawatts and installed capacity of 369 gigawatts.[27]: 203
As of 2021, China operates four of the world''s six largest dams.[27]: 201 These include the world''s biggest (Three Gorges Dam, with 22.5 gigawatts capacity) and second biggest (Baihetan Dam).[27]: 201
China has the largest wind resources in the world and three-quarters of this natural resource is located at sea.[29] Per its 13th Five-Year Plan, China aimed to have 210 GW of wind power capacity by 2020.[30] It exceeded that goal, reaching 276 GW of onshore wind power by the end of 2020.[10]: 33
China encourages foreign companies, especially from the United States, to visit and invest in Chinese wind power generation.[31] However, use of wind energy in China has not always kept up with the remarkable construction of wind power capacity in the country.[8]
By 2009 China had total installed windpower capacity up to 26 GW.[34] China has identified wind power as a key growth component of the country''s economy.[35]
As of 2010, China has become the world''s largest maker of wind turbines, surpassing Denmark, Germany, Spain, and the United States.[36] The initial future target set by the Chinese government was 10 GW by 2010,[37] but the total installed capacity for wind power generation in China had already reached 25.1 GW by the end of 2009.[32][38]
In September 2019, Norwegian energy firm Equinor and state-owned China Power International Holding (CPIH) announced their plan to cooperate in developing offshore wind in China and Europe.[39]
In 2020, China deployed 71.7 GW of wind energy capacity, a 60% increase compared to 2019 and more than the rest of the world combined.[40]
In the year 2022, China is set to install more 56 GW of wind turbines, of which 50 GW are from onshore wind and 6W from offshore wind turbines.[41]
As of at least 2024, China has the largest domestic market for wind turbines.[42]: 88
Although in some countries there are aesthetic objections to large-scale wind farms, in China they are often perceived as an aesthetic positive due to their associations with modernity and green development.[43]: 119
China produces 63% of the world''s solar photovoltaics (PV).[45] It is the world''s largest solar panel manufacturer as of at least 2024.[42]: 88 It also has the world''s largest domestic market for solar panels.[42]: 88
China has become a world leader in the manufacture of solar photovoltaic technology, with its six biggest solar companies having a combined value of over $15 billion. Around 820 MW of solar PV were produced in China in 2007, second only to Japan.[49]
Following a report from China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute, in 2022 China is set to install more 100 GW of solar panels.[41]
China''s solar exports in 2022 grew by 64% to US$52 billion. Chinese exports mainly consist of solar modules, with Europe being the destination for 56% of the share of exports in 2022.[50]
As of at least 2023, solar power in China is cheaper than coal-fired power.[51]: 167
Although in some countries there are aesthetic objections to large-scale solar farms, in China they are often perceived as an aesthetic positive due to their associations with modernity and green development.[43]: 119
Work has begun on the ¥250 million Kaiyou Green Energy Biomass (Rice Husks) Power Generating project located in the Suqian City Economic Development Zone in Jiangsu. The Kaiyou Green Energy Biomass Power project will generate 144 GWh/year (equivalent to 16.5 MW) and use 200 kilotonnes/year of crop waste as inputs.[54]
Bioenergy is also used at the domestic level in China, both in biomass stoves[55] and by producing biogas from animal manure.[56] As of at least 2023, China is both the world''s largest producer and largest consumer of household biogas, with more than 30 million rural households using biogas digesters.[57]: 172
China''s Sixth Five-Year Plan (1981–1985) was the first to address government policy support for solar PV panel manufacturing.[10]: 34 Policy support for solar panel manufacturing has been a part of every Five-Year Plan since.[10]: 34
Several provisions in relevant Chinese laws and regulations address the development of methane gas in rural China. These provisions include Article 54 of the Agriculture Law of the People''s Republic of China,[68] Articles 4 and 11 of the Energy Conservation Law of the People''s Republic of China,[69] Article 18 of the Renewable Energy Law of the People''s Republic of China[70] and Article 12 of the Regulations of the People''s Republic of China Concerning Restoring Farmland to Forest.[71]
About Renewable energy power plants
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Renewable energy power plants have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient Renewable energy power plants for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various Renewable energy power plants featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
Related Contents
