China plans to increase its wind and solar power generation by 53 percent within the next five years, aiming for total renewable energy output to rise from 1.18 billion tonnes of coal equivalent (tce) to 1.8 billion tce by 2030. The government’s new plan establishes the first binding target for green energy in the country, signaling a major acceleration of its energy transition.
The plan, reported by Reuters, outlines that wind and solar energy, supported by energy storage systems, must be capable of delivering 8 percent of their installed capacity during peak demand periods and cover 20 percent of electricity consumption at times of highest load by 2030. This marks a shift towards making renewables a reliable backbone of the grid, not just a supplementary source.
Wind and solar targets
Under the plan, China will add over 300 gigawatts (GW) of peak-shaving renewable capacity – power that can be dispatched instantly when demand surges. Additionally, 150 million tce of wind and solar energy is to be used outside the power sector, including for heating, cooling, and the production of green hydrogen. The target for green hydrogen output is set at 2 million metric tonnes annually by 2030.
– This is the first time a binding target for renewable energy has been established in China’s energy planning – stwierdził przedstawiciel chińskiego Narodowego Biura Energii. The official added that the goal reflects Beijing’s commitment to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
Hydropower and offshore wind expansion
The plan also targets 570 GW of hydropower capacity by 2030, up from 450 GW in 2025. This includes 160 GW of pumped-storage hydropower, compared to just 66 GW five years earlier, significantly enhancing grid flexibility. Offshore wind is set for a major push, with plans to build deep-water wind bases – a model similar to the desert mega-bases for solar and wind. The plan even suggests integrating offshore wind with underwater data centers, a novel concept that could reduce energy transmission losses.
Pilot projects for 100-percent renewable energy mega-bases, which will transmit only green electricity, are also scheduled for implementation. These initiatives confirm that China is not only scaling up renewables but also rethinking how to integrate them into the energy system.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Shutterstock
