China’s wind and solar power generation up 27% in H1

The East Asian superpower is the biggest renewable energy investor in the world.

China’s wind and solar electricity generation in the first half (H1) of 2024 was 27% higher compared to the same period last year.

In a new analysis, Ember noted that this, alongside other trends, helped reduce fossil fuel generation by 2% compared to H1 2024.

In the 12 months to June 2025, wind and solar generated 2,073 terawatt-hours (TWh), which was more electricity than all other clean sources with 1,936 TWh.

China is the biggest investor in clean energy worldwide, spending $625b in 2024, which is 31% of the global total of $2.033t.

“The clean energy transition is constraining China’s dependence on imported fossil fuels, reducing energy costs, stimulating growth and jobs and creating export markets,” Ember said.

In 2024, investment and production in clean energy contributed $1.9t to the national economy which is about one-tenth of China’s gross domestic product. The sector is also growing three times faster than the Chinese economy overall.

Furthermore, Chinese companies now account for about 75% of global patent applications in clean energy technology, up from just 5% in 2000.

“These investments in the clean energy future are driving dramatic cost reductions across the world in key technologies such as wind turbines, solar panels, storage batteries and electric vehicles,” Ember said.

“The benefits are increasingly being felt in emerging markets, many of which are overtaking OECD countries in wind and solar generation share and in electrification,” the report added.