For The First Time In History, China Reports Installed Capacity Of Solar And Wind Energy Exceeding That Of Thermal Power Plants

Written by Andriely Medeiros de Araújo

Published on 02/05/2025 at 17:57

Acelerando sua transição energética, a China atinge 1,4 terawatts (TW) em capacidade instalada de energia solar e eólica. Imagem: Canva.

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Accelerating Your Energy Transition, China Reaches 1.4 Terawatts (TW) in Installed Capacity of Solar and Wind Energy and Surpasses for the First Time the Power of Thermoelectric Plants in the Country.

China’s energy matrix recorded an unprecedented milestone at the end of March 2025: for the first time, the installed capacity of renewable sources — solar photovoltaic and wind energy — surpassed that of thermoelectric plants.

According to data released by the National Energy Administration (NEA), the Asian country reached a combined 1.4 terawatts (TW) of solar and wind energy, highlighting the accelerated progress of clean sources over traditional ones, such as coal.

In the first quarter of 2025, electricity production from wind and solar energy totaled 536 terawatt-hours (TWh), equivalent to 22.5% of China’s total electricity consumption.

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Investments and Global Leadership in Clean Energy

Despite the advancement, investments in new projects experienced a slight downturn.

The leading energy companies in China allocated approximately US$ 18.34 billion to new ventures in the generation sector in the first quarter of 2025, a decline of 2.5% compared to the same period in 2024.

Still, China maintains its position as the global leader in renewable energy.

According to the NEA, the total installed capacity of renewable sources in the country reached 1.41 TW at the end of 2024 — a number that represents 40% of the entire national electrical matrix and already surpasses the power of thermoelectric plants, especially coal-fired plants.

Although significant, this figure is still lower than that reported by the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), which indicated 1.8 TW of operational capacity in the country.

Accelerated Growth and Technological Dominance

The growth of renewable sources in Chinese territory is striking. Since 2013, the installed capacity of wind energy has increased sixfold, while solar photovoltaic energy has surged more than 180 times. In 2024, the new installations accounted for more than 40% of the total capacity added worldwide.

In addition to internal expansion, China also leads in the global supply of technology for renewable generation.

The country is currently the world’s largest manufacturer of equipment such as wind turbines and solar panels, consolidating its influence not only in generation but also in the production chain of the energy sector.

With information from Portal Solar

For The First Time In History, China Reports Installed Capacity Of Solar And Wind Energy Exceeding That Of Thermal Power Plants

Accelerating Your Energy Transition, China Reaches 1.4 Terawatts (TW) in Installed Capacity of Solar and Wind Energy and Surpasses for the First Time the Power of Thermoelectric Plants in the Country.

Investments and Global Leadership in Clean Energy

Accelerated Growth and Technological Dominance

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For The First Time In History, China Reports Installed Capacity Of Solar And Wind Energy Exceeding That Of Thermal Power Plants

Accelerating Your Energy Transition, China Reaches 1.4 Terawatts (TW) in Installed Capacity of Solar and Wind Energy and Surpasses for the First Time the Power of Thermoelectric Plants in the Country.

Renewables Gain Strength and Increase Share in Electricity Consumption

Investments and Global Leadership in Clean Energy

Accelerated Growth and Technological Dominance

A village with 115 inhabitants wants new residents: it offers a house, a job, up to 44 thousand euros in benefits, almost free rent, an annual grant of 8 thousand euros for 3 years, and a 20 thousand euro incentive for businesses in the mountains of Italy.

Seven world powers including the US, China, and Russia are spending €22 billion on a reactor in the south of France that aims to confine plasma at 150 million degrees Celsius, ten times the temperature of the Sun’s core, using a magnetic field capable of lifting an entire aircraft carrier.

With a wingspan of 152 meters, 76 tires, and a capacity to carry 1,270 tons, the Boeing Pelican was the giant “flying ship” that promised to cross oceans close to the water on an invisible air cushion beneath its wings.

Elon Musk’s internet comes to mobile: Starlink technology connects smartphones without an antenna via satellite, works even without carrier signal, already costs just US$10 extra in the US, and could arrive in Brazil as an included benefit.

While countries spend billions to draw water from the sea, a Nobel-winning scientist creates a container-sized machine that extracts up to 1,000 liters per day from dry air and uses ultrasound to release water in minutes, even in the middle of the desert.

After 16 years and almost 600 prototypes, a Chinese inventor unveils the world’s smallest and cheapest manned jet, at just 3.80 meters long and costing US$7.2 thousand in materials.

Belgium will sink 23 giant concrete caissons, each weighing 22,000 tons, in the North Sea to build the world’s first artificial energy island 45 km off the coast, forming offshore electrical walls.

Saudi Arabia is building in Oxagon a US$ 8.4 billion mega green hydrogen plant with 4 GW of solar and wind energy, 5.6 million solar panels, and capacity to produce 600 tons per day, transforming the desert into one of the planet’s largest clean fuel factories.

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