Wind, solar: China installs more than the rest of the world combined

The Asian giant, with its immense population (1,4 billion inhabitants) and its status as a manufacturing country with numerous factories, is the world's leading emitter of greenhouse gases, which scientists say accelerate climate change.

China has committed to stabilizing or decreasing its emissions by 2030, then achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.

It is thus strongly developing its capacities in renewables: it is currently building 180 gigawatts (GW) of solar energy and an additional 159 GW of wind energy, according to the study by the American organization Global Energy Monitor (GEM).

According to this report, this total of 339 GW "represents 64% of the solar and wind energy" that is "currently under construction" on the planet, almost double the rest of the world combined.

China is followed by the United States (40 GW), Brazil (13 GW), the United Kingdom (10 GW) and Spain (9 GW), according to GEM, an organization that lists fuel-related projects fossil and renewable energies in the world.

Coal again

These 339 GW represent a third of the total new wind and solar capacities announced by national authorities and for which construction has actually begun, "which far exceeds" the world average (7%), notes the study. .

“The stark contrast between these two percentages illustrates the very proactive nature of China with regard to its commitments to the construction of renewable energy projects,” she underlines.

However, China still relies heavily on its coal-fired power plants, a very polluting fossil energy, to meet the growing demand for electricity.

It also struggles to transport part of the renewable energy, that produced in remote regions, to the economic and densely populated centers of the east.

However, the combined capacity of wind and solar power in China is expected to surpass that of coal there this year, according to GEM.

According to the study, this rapid expansion of renewable energy raises hopes that China's emissions will peak sooner than expected.

"A turning point"

In a separate report published Thursday, the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (Crea), a research institute based in Finland, also claims that China has not issued any new permits for coal-fired steelworks projects during the first half of 2024.

According to this study, which speaks of a possible "turning point", this is the first half where such permits have not been issued since September 2020, when China announced its emissions promises for 2030 and 2060.

“With steel demand in China peaking,” there “is significant potential to phase out coal-based production, representing a significant opportunity to reduce emissions over the next 10 years. next few years", indicates Crea.

According to scientists, global warming is making extreme weather events more frequent and more intense.

China is experiencing a summer marked by torrid heat in the north and torrential rains in its southern half.

Heavy rains in the eastern and southern parts of the country have also caused a series of deadly floods and landslides in recent weeks.