In China, wind and solar power are growing exceptionally, but fossil fuels are also rising sharply.

The world's second-largest economy increased its energy capacity from all sources by 543 gigawatts last year, a rise roughly double the total electricity generation capacity of Germany, for example.

China has thus increased its solar power capacity by 315 gigawatts and its wind power capacity by 119 gigawatts, a record which has contributed to increasing the total installed electricity generation capacity by 16,1% compared to the previous year.

At the same time, however, the capacity to generate energy from gas and coal increased by about 93 gigawatts - a rise in new thermal installations of 75% compared to 2024 - which brought the increase in total installed thermal generation capacity to +6,3%.

The new renewable energy capacity represents some 17.000 wind turbines and 500 million solar panels, according to Lauri Myllyvirta, chief analyst at the Centre for Research and Clean Air (CREA), a non-profit think tank.

"This corresponds to the erection of two wind turbines per hour and the installation of an area equivalent to 20 football fields of solar panels per hour," he noted in a message on X.

As electricity demand in China continues to grow strongly, this increase in renewable energy capacity should "help replace electricity generation from fossil fuels" in the future, notes Mr. Myllyvirta.

However, the significant increase in coal and gas power plants is likely to lead to underutilization of renewable energy facilities, and "create new obstacles to the development of clean energy," he points out.

China is the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, but it is also a very large producer of renewable energy. It has set itself the objectives of capping its carbon emissions by 2030, reducing them by at least 7% by 2035, and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.