According to the National Energy Administration (NEA), China added nearly 72 GW of wind power capacity and 48 GW of solar capacity in 2020. The growth in wind capacity additions accelerated in 2020 - from 26 GW added in 2019 - and exceeded 2019 global wind capacity additions by 12 GW. Part of this increase was linked to an earlier announcement of China ending subsidies for new onshore wind projects as of 2021. As well, solar capacity additions recovered after two years of slowdown (+44 GW in 2018 and +30 GW in 2019). Hydropower capacity increased by 13 GW in 2020. At the end of 2020, China had 282 GW of wind capacity and 253 GW of solar capacity. The country intends to increase its installed wind and solar capacity to 1,200 GW in 2030.
China’s power generation grew by 2.7% in 2020. Electricity consumption rose by 3.1% in 2020, despite the negative impacts of the coronavirus pandemic that disrupted industrial activity. Electricity consumption in industry rose by 2.5% and by 1.9% in the tertiary sector.
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