Nation's clean energy drive marches forward

Non-fossil fuel power capacity surged 78.5%since 2021

China's renewable energy capacity surged to 1.27 billion kilowatts by the end of August, accounting for 40.7 percent of the nation's total power generation capacity, amid the country's accelerating efforts to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and transition toward a greener low-carbon economy, said the China Electricity Council.

The growth in renewable energy — such as wind, solar and biomass — has driven a significant rise in non-fossil fuel power capacity, said Yang Kun, executive vice-chairman of the council, at the 2024 New Power System Development (Chongli) Forum on Thursday.

China's push to build a new power system has supported the rapid expansion of renewable energy. Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), China's non-fossil fuel power capacity has surged 78.5 percent, Yang said.