China is leading the way in renewable energy growth
Renewables’ relentless march on grid power is just getting started and there will be no stopping it
Almost one year ago, I wrote that most of the growth in renewable energy will happen in China, Latin America, the Middle East, and parts of the world that still lack access to reliable electricity, like India and Africa. We now have some evidence of just how stunning that growth will be. In 2014, according to government statistics, China added about 18.7 gigawatts (GW) of new wind capacity – more than twice as much as the next five nations combined, and about 42% of wind additions globally. The Asian nation is the world leader in grid-connected capacity, with 95.8 GW, or about 30% of the global total in 2013. (The US generates more power from wind than China does, but that may be a short-liv
Also in this section
9 January 2026
A shift in perspective is needed on the carbon challenge, the success of which will determine the speed and extent of emissions cuts and how industries adapt to the new environment
2 January 2026
This year may be a defining one for carbon capture, utilisation and storage in the US, despite the institutional uncertainty
23 December 2025
Legislative reform in Germany sets the stage for commercial carbon capture and transport at a national level, while the UK has already seen financial close on major CCS clusters
15 December 2025
Net zero is not the problem for the UK’s power system. The real issue is with an outdated market design in desperate need of modernisation
