PV-grade glass producers have scaled up manufacturing in China to meet demand
Renewables at 20-year high in 2020
Developers in US, China and Vietnam rush to get projects connected in fourth quarter
More renewable capacity came online in 2020 than in any other year since 1999 as firms in the US, China and Vietnam rushed to get projects connected in order to benefit from expiring subsidy regimes. Capacity additions rose 45pc to reach 280GW last year, with developers connecting almost 150 GW of new renewable capacity in Q4–more than double the number for the fourth quarter of 2019 and more than the amount installed in the first three-quarters of 2020. The end-of-year rush illustrated the ability of supply chains to meet huge surges in demand, according to the IEA’s Renewable Energy Market Update. “Wind and solar power are giving us more reasons to be optimistic about our climate goals as
Also in this section
28 November 2025
The launch of the bloc’s emissions trading system in 2005 was a pioneering step, but as the scheme hits 21 its impact as a driver of decarbonisation is still open to debate
18 November 2025
Vicki Hollub, president and CEO of Occidental, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Dewhurst Award, the highest honour bestowed by WPC Energy. The Dewhurst Award celebrates exceptional leadership, groundbreaking innovation and a lifetime of significant achievements in sup-port of the development and advancement of the energy industry.
11 November 2025
Transition policies must recognise that significant industrial demand for carbon will continue even as economies hit net zero
6 November 2025
After years of pursuing ideologically driven climate leadership, Western powers are now stepping back under mounting political pressure and rising populist opposition—prompting concern essential climate action could be sidelined
