China's combined installed capacity of wind and solar power broke through the 2-billion-kilowatt mark by the end of September, marking a historic new stage in the country's renewable energy development and further consolidating the dominant position of green energy in the nation's power structure, said industry experts.
During the first nine months of the year, approximately 170 million kW of new wind and solar capacity were added to the grid, according to the latest data from the National Energy Administration released on Monday.
A breakdown of the figures shows that solar power capacity stood at 1.31 billion kW by the end of September, representing a 16.5 percent year-on-year increase. Wind power capacity reached 700 million kW, surging 20.4 percent from a year ago.
The 2-billion-kW scale provides sufficient green electricity to guarantee economic and social development, marking significant achievements in the nation's green and low-carbon transition, said Liu Zhiqiang, deputy director of the planning and development department at the China Electricity Council.
"From the perspective of industrial development, this achievement further solidifies China's leading advantages in the global new energy industry chain," Liu said. "It provides strong support for the coordinated development of upstream and downstream industries, such as the research and development of new energy materials, equipment manufacturing and smart operations and maintenance."
Liu added that the sector's rapid expansion is driving regional economic development and employment growth, injecting strong momentum into the cultivation of new quality productive forces.
China's wind and solar power capacity has firmly held the top spot globally for many consecutive years. The current 2-billion-kW capacity accounts for approximately half of the world's total new energy installations, vividly demonstrating China's firm determination and remarkable effectiveness in tackling global climate change and advancing the energy transition, Liu noted.
The rapid expansion of new energy is already playing an irreplaceable role in China's broader energy landscape, the NEA said.
From January to September, total electricity generated by wind and solar farms hit 1.93 trillion kilowatt-hours, an increase of 193.7 billion kWh compared to the same period last year. Notably, the increment in wind and solar power generation accounted for 64 percent of the country's total new electricity consumption.
The NEA highlighted that the large-scale substitution of traditional fossil fuels is continuously unleashing significant carbon reduction benefits, cementing renewables as the primary driving force behind the nation's green energy transition.
Furthermore, this leapfrog development has bolstered China's national energy security. During the peak summer demand period this year, maximum midday wind and solar output accounted for over 40 percent of the total power load on the days with the highest electricity demand.
This robust performance guaranteed a reliable power supply during daytime usage spikes, effectively aiding the country in navigating the global energy crisis, the administration said.
Looking ahead, guided by the goal of building an energy powerhouse, China's new energy development will maintain a strong momentum, Liu said.
As the power system's regulation capabilities improve, electricity market mechanisms are refined and grid integration technologies achieve continuous breakthroughs, new energy will realize a qualitative leap alongside its scale expansion, he said.
This will enable a safe and reliable substitution of traditional energy sources, providing solid backing for the realization of the country's dual carbon goals, he said. - China Daily/ANN
