Clean Energy Growth Surpasses Demand

In China, the expansion of renewable energy has accelerated so rapidly that it now exceeds total electricity demand growth, marking a turning point in the global clean energy transition.

“China is now the main engine of the global clean energy transition,” said Ember’s lead analyst Muyi Yang.

In 2024, clean sources such as solar, wind, and hydro met 84% of new electricity demand, while in the first half of 2025, they outpaced total demand growth for the first time. Wind and solar now account for 18% of all power generation, and the country plans to nearly double renewable capacity by 2030, with solar alone expected to triple this decade. Despite coal still covering about 62% of supply, renewables are taking the lead — proving that large-scale policy and investment can drive real, measurable progress toward a cleaner future.