Beijing (TDI): China’s transition toward green and low-carbon energy accelerated at the fastest pace in its history during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025), according to the National Energy Administration (NEA).
NEA head Wang Hongzhi said that during this period, green electricity accounted for one-third of China’s total power consumption, reflecting a rapid expansion of renewable sources such as wind, solar and biomass, Xinhua reported.
China has continued to boost its non-fossil energy supply, building the world’s largest and fastest-growing renewable energy system. From 2021 to 2025, the share of installed renewable power capacity surged from 40% to around 60%, with wind and photovoltaic (PV) energy forming the backbone of this transformation.
NEA official Li Chuangjun said that China’s combined wind and solar installed capacity jumped from 530 million kilowatts in 2020 to 1.68 billion kilowatts by July 2025, an average annual growth rate of 28%. The share of wind and solar in total electricity consumption also rose from 9.7% in 2020 to 18.6% in 2024, increasing by more than two percentage points each year.
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During the 14th Five-Year Plan, China also led the world in the development of new-energy technologies and equipment, accounting for over 40% of global new-energy patents.
By mid-2025, China’s new-type energy storage capacity reached 95 million kilowatts, a nearly 30-fold increase in five years, ranking first globally.
In 2024, China’s hydrogen production and consumption exceeded 36 million tonnes, maintaining its position as the world leader. Renewable-based hydrogen capacity now represents more than half of global supply, according to the NEA.
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Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), Yang Kun, executive vice chairman of the China Electricity Council, said China must ensure high utilization rates for both existing and newly built renewable projects.
He also called for the expansion of non-electric renewable applications, such as green hydrogen production and renewable heating, while accelerating innovation in integrated energy technologies.
