The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) recently reported that global renewable energy capacity reached record highs in 2024, with China accounting for 60% of the world’s new renewable power generation additions. Despite this progress, the report highlighted a significant gap between current deployment and targets set at COP28, underscoring the critical role of China’s booming green industries in accelerating global energy transitions.
As nations race to meet carbon neutrality goals, green industries have emerged as a cornerstone of climate strategies. Solar, wind, and hydropower sectors are expanding rapidly, with renewables and nuclear power collectively supplying 80% of the world’s 2024 electricity generation growth—their combined share exceeding 40% for the first time. To achieve 2030 green transition targets, global renewable capacity must grow by 16.6% annually, particularly in developing nations with untapped demand.
Technological innovation is further fueling this growth. Advances in smart grids, distributed energy systems, and carbon capture are expanding green industry frontiers, while products like electric vehicles (EVs) and solar panels—celebrated for their emissions reductions and resource efficiency—are driving global green consumption.
With climate change posing universal threats, global green capacity remains insufficient as long as decarbonization opportunities persist. Amid this landscape, China’s high-quality green production capacity is widely recognized as a catalyst for global energy transitions.
China’s “new trio” of exports—electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and photovoltaic products—surpassed 1 trillion yuan in overseas sales in 2023. In 2024, wind turbine exports surged 71.9%, photovoltaic exports exceeded 200 billion yuan for the fourth consecutive year, and lithium-ion battery shipments hit a record 3.91 billion units. Collaborations with over 100 countries, including landmark projects like Pakistan’s Karot Hydropower Station and Ethiopia’s Adama Wind Farm, are turning renewable energy dreams into reality for developing nations.
China’s rapid technological advancements—such as improving photovoltaic cell efficiency, refining megawatt-class wind turbine designs, and leading global EV patents—are slashing costs for green products and projects. Low-cost Chinese solar panels are electrifying rural Zimbabwe, while affordable Chinese EVs gain popularity worldwide. IRENA notes that global wind and solar power costs have fallen by over 60% and 80%, respectively, in the past decade, largely due to Chinese innovations.
Chinese new energy firms are localizing operations abroad, integrating product development, services, marketing, HR, and supply chains. For instance, CATL is building battery plants in Hungary, while LONGi, Trina Solar, and JinkoSolar have established Southeast Asian production hubs, creating integrated overseas capacity and supply networks. These partnerships foster a win-win model for low-carbon energy transitions, advancing global progress.
While China champions global green capacity expansion, certain developed nations impose trade barriers, hindering the free flow of green technologies and products. Such protectionism contradicts sustainable development goals, undermines climate commitments, and stifles the low-carbon economy—ultimately jeopardizing global energy transitions.
China’s high-quality green capacity has emerged as a linchpin of global energy transitions, reflecting its commitment to climate action and its role as a responsible global power. As the world confronts climate urgency, China’s model of innovation, collaboration, and inclusive growth stands in stark contrast to protectionist tendencies, offering a blueprint for a sustainable, low-carbon future.
