Policy & Regulation

China leads the world in renewables drive

Despite a switch to gas in power, China will need a quantum leap in renewables to meet its COP21 targets. The latest REN21 report suggests that this transition is under way despite a drop in investment in 2016 Despite a switch to gas in power, China will need a quantum leap in renewables to meet its COP21 targets. The latest REN21 report suggests that this transition is under way despite a drop in investment in 2016.
By Peter Stewart 6 July 2017 0 26646
Sungrow floating solar plant. (Sungrow)

China is mentioned 641 times in the latest REN-21 report, an annual global survey of renewable energy developments and prospects released last week. The report reflects China’s continued dominance of the global renewables sector in terms of capacity, generation and investment.

China was top of the table in terms of solar and wind power capacity and generation by the end of 2016, according to the 302-page report, and was second only to the United States for biopower. In the heating sector, China led the world in...