China’s energy sector has rewritten history by the close of 2025, boasting 2.34 billion kilowatts in renewable capacity per National Energy Administration figures. The 14th Five-Year Plan era (2021-2025) saw the nation forge the world’s largest, quickest-expanding renewable system, with clean sources rising from 40% to nearly 60% of total capacity.
President Xi Jinping’s focus on linking energy security to broader development has driven high-quality new energy expansion. Three landmark developments defined 2025: Wind and solar capacity eclipsed thermal power, growing from 530 million kilowatts in 2020 to 1.84 billion. Storage capacity broke 100 million kilowatts, over 40% of global figures. Green certificate trades hit record highs, exceeding past cumulatives.
Desert mega-bases added more than 130 million kilowatts during the plan period. Green electricity now accounts for 40% of consumption, bolstered by the world’s top EV charging network and promotions for green vehicles. Evolving green power markets are spurring consumption.
Beyond borders, China’s renewable exports facilitated 410 million tons of carbon reductions elsewhere. This transformative journey underscores China’s commitment to sustainability, offering a blueprint for global energy shifts amid pressing climate imperatives.