China Aims to Build 450 GW of New Solar and Wind Energy Capacity in the Coming Years
China has announced plans to build 450 GW of new solar and wind energy capacity in the coming years, with the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2060. According to official data, China had a renewable energy capacity of 895 GW in 2020, more than the European Union, the United States, and Australia combined. By the end of 2021, China had already reached 306 GW of solar energy capacity and 328 GW of wind power capacity, in addition to other sources of clean energy such as biomass, geothermal, and hydropower.
Despite its impressive renewable energy capacity, China still has the highest carbon dioxide emissions in the world. In 2019, the country emitted more greenhouse gases than the United States, the European Union, and the other member states of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) combined. To prevent further increases in carbon emissions, China plans to build 450 GW of wind and solar power capacity, primarily in the Gobi Desert and other desert regions of the country.
According to He Lifeng, director of the State Commission for Development and Reform, this will be “the largest solar and wind energy generation capacity in history.” To ensure a stable power grid, high-efficiency coal-fired power plants and ultra-high-voltage transmission lines will also be necessary. The coal-fired power plants will support renewable energy during periods of low wind, providing a stable base load supply. This ambitious project is expected to help China achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, although the peak of emissions has not yet been reached. By 2030, China aims to expand its solar and wind energy capacity to 1.2 terawatts.
