China Builds World's Largest and Most Complete Clean Energy Industrial Chain

Official data from a report on the global energy transition, released recently by the China Enterprise Reform and Development Society, indicates that China has built the "world's largest and most complete clean energy industrial chain." This transformation is a necessary response to the record rise in global carbon emissions (37.8 billion tons in 2024).

1. Global Investment and Industrial Leadership

• Record Investment: China's total investment in energy transition last year reached $818 billion, a 20% year-on-year increase.

  Comparison: This amount exceeds the combined total investments of the US, UK, and EU, placing China first globally.

• Supply Dominance:

  • China supplies 70% of the world's wind power equipment.

  • China supplies 80% of the world's photovoltaic (solar energy) components.

• Product Export: China exports wind, solar, and new energy vehicle products to over 200 countries and regions.

• Cost Reduction: China has contributed to reducing the cost of electricity generation from wind power by over 60% and from solar power by over 80%.

2. Internal Transformation and National Pledges

• Reducing Coal Dependence: Despite being the world's largest coal consumer, China reduced the share of coal-fired installed power capacity from 58.7% in 2015 to 33.1% in the first half of 2025.

• Shanxi Example: The coal-rich Shanxi province achieved a historic shift, with new and clean energy accounting for 54.55% of its installed capacity, moving from "fossil fuel dominance" to "clean energy dominance."

• 2035 Targets (NDCs):

  • Non-fossil fuel energy consumption to exceed 30% of total energy consumption.

  • Total installed capacity for wind and solar power to exceed six times the 2020 level, reaching 3.6 billion kilowatts.