China’s installed electricity capacity triples since 2011

China’s installed electricity capacity exceeded 3,000 gigawatts (GW) as of the end of April this year, according to figures from China’s Electricity Council (CEC).

The country’s electricity capacity exceeded 1,000 GW in 2011, doubled to 2,000 GW in 2019, and by the end of April this year, it had reached 3,009 GW, CEC data showed.

Of the total installed capacity, thermal power plants generated 1,398 GW; 671 GW came from solar power plants; wind power plants contributed 458 GW; hydroelectric power plants were responsible for 425 GW; and approximately 57 GW came from nuclear power plants.

Therefore, solar and wind combined held a 37% share of total capacity.

The Chinese government, which is rapidly increasing its renewable energy capacity, exports wind and solar energy equipment to more than 200 countries worldwide.

The share of solar energy technologies in China’s 2023 exports was recorded at US$245.3 billion, while the share of wind energy technologies hit $33.4 billion.

• China’s Electricity Council (CEC).