A new report shows China’s fossil fuel use is plateauing, as surging electricity demand is increasingly met by wind and solar amid the world’s largest energy consumer’s decarbonization push.
Why It Matters
China has become the undisputed leader in green tech manufacturing and exports, dominating sectors from electric vehicles to solar panels and battery storage.
It has done so through aggressive state-driven industrial policy, massive public spending—totaling $625 billion last year, or nearly one-third of global clean energy investment—and by harnessing its integrated, domestic supply chains in a broader push to reduce reliance on oil imports and claim a lead in emerging technologies.
Newsweek reached out to China’s National Energy Administration via email with a request for comment.
What To Know
Fossil fuel consumption in China has effectively plateaued since 2021, both in overall energy use and electricity generation, according to a report by U.K.-based think tank Ember.
Eighty-four percent of the increase in electricity demand last year was met by clean energy sources, including wind, solar and nuclear, per the report.
Wind and solar are leading the surge, with China generating 18 percent of its electricity from those sources in 2024—double the share from 2020, Ember said.
In the first six months of 2025, wind output rose 16 percent over the same period last year, while solar generation soared by 43 percent. Combined output from wind and solar hit 2,073 terawatt-hours by June, surpassing China’s hydropower, nuclear and bioenergy output for the first time.
Fossil fuel use for direct end uses—like transportation, heating and industrial combustion—has stalled at just under 150 exajoules since 2018.
China has added 267.53 gigawatts of solar capacity in the first half of 2025 alone—nearly triple the rest of the world combined, according to Ember.
What People Are Saying
Jonas Nahm, assistant professor for energy, resources and environment at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, wrote on X: “As the U.S. withdraws from green tech industries and pressures allies to follow suit, China is stepping in to power the developing world’s energy transition. The scale is staggering.”
Guo Jiakun, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said at a June news conference: “This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement. China is always a staunch doer and important contributor to global green development. Working toward peaking carbon dioxide emissions and achieving carbon neutrality is our solemn commitment to the international community.”
What’s Next
China is expected to continue advancing its green energy transition. President Xi Jinping has set a target for the country to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
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