China doubled its power capacity additions to Belt and Road nations in 2024, hitting a massive 24 GW. Over half is clean energy—solar and hydro. They’re not playing around. China now operates 42 ultra-high voltage lines spanning 40,000 kilometers, dominating global energy infrastructure. Their clean tech exports topped 1 trillion RMB annually. With renewable costs down 90%, China’s energy revolution isn’t just reshaping their economy—it’s transforming global power dynamics. The numbers tell only part of the story.
While the rest of the world debates climate action, China quietly added a staggering 24 gigawatts of power capacity to Belt and Road nations in 2024. This isn’t just another year of growth—it’s a record-shattering achievement that more than doubled 2023’s figures. The numbers don’t lie. They scream.
Solar and hydroelectric power accounted for 52% of this new capacity. Not exactly surprising for a country determined to paint its Belt and Road Initiative green. The State Grid Corporation isn’t playing small ball either, proposing a Global Energy Interconnection that would link over 80 countries with smart grids and ultra-high voltage transmission.
By the end of 2024, China will operate 42 long-distance UHV lines spanning 40,000 kilometers. That’s enough to circle the Earth. Twice.
The money tells the real story. Clean energy investments hit a mind-boggling 890 billion USD in 2023—up 40% from the previous year and nearly matching global fossil fuel investment. Let that sink in. Renewables have become China’s economic engine, driving 40% of GDP growth.
The future? Even bigger. Annual investment in wind and solar equipment is projected to reach 6 trillion RMB by 2060. That’s trillion with a T.
Meanwhile, China’s technological advances make everyone else look like they’re standing still. The world’s largest hydro-solar plant just fired up in Sichuan, covering 700,000 households’ needs annually. Single wind turbines now reach 18 MW capacity. That’s serious juice.
China’s ‘1+N’ policy framework isn’t just talk—it’s reshaping their entire energy system. Market prices where competition works, regulation where it doesn’t. Simple. Effective.
The global impact? Massive. Chinese technology has slashed renewable costs by up to 90%. Their exports of green tech topped 1 trillion RMB annually. These projects have collectively contributed to the construction of 156 GW capacity throughout Belt and Road countries.
While targets aim for peak emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, they’ll likely hit their 1,200 GW renewable capacity goal five years early. Not bad for a country that still burns a lot of coal.
To reach carbon neutrality, China needs to dramatically scale up installations to reach 10,000GW capacity of wind and solar by 2060, a sevenfold increase from current levels. This transitional effort aligns with the global trend where aging electrical grids require significant modernization to support renewable energy integration.
