China Sets Clean Energy Record in Early 2025 with 951 TW
China made big progress in clean energy during the first three months of 2025. The country produced 951 terawatt hours (TWh) of clean electricity between January and March. That’s 19% more than during the same period in 2024, according to energy think tank Ember.
- Clean energy now makes up 39% of all electricity in China, up from 34% last year.
This growth shows how quickly China is moving toward cleaner power. It also puts China far ahead of other major countries like the United States and those in Europe. Experts from Ember said this trend will likely continue throughout the year as clean sources like solar, wind, and hydro continue to grow.
Solar Skyrockets, Wind Whirls Past Records
China has been building many new clean energy projects in recent years. These include large wind farms, solar parks, and hydropower stations. The goal is to reduce pollution, improve energy security, and help fight climate change. The results from early 2025 show that these efforts are paying off.
- Wind energy was China’s largest source of clean power in early 2025, as seen above. Wind farms generated 307 TWh, which is 13% of the country’s total electricity.
That’s the highest wind share on record so far. These wind farms are located across many provinces, especially in northern and western China, where there is a lot of open space and strong wind.
Solar power grew even faster. In Q1 2025, solar generation rose 48% compared to the same period in 2024. Solar power reached 254 TWh, making up 10% of total electricity. This was the largest increase among all clean energy sources.
China is home to some of the world’s biggest solar farms, including desert-based installations that stretch across thousands of acres.
For the first time, solar and wind together produced more electricity than hydro power. This is a major shift. In the past, hydro was always the top clean energy source in China. But now, new investments in solar and wind are starting to take the lead.
Hydropower still plays an important role. In Q1 2025, hydro power grew 7% year-over-year to 226 TWh. This growth is important because hydro helps balance the power grid when wind and solar are not available.
Nuclear energy also increased, with output rising 13% to 117 TWh. Nuclear plants provide steady, non-stop electricity and support the shift away from fossil fuels.
Coal and Gas Use Drops
Thanks to the increase in clean energy, China was able to reduce its use of fossil fuels. Coal-fired electricity dropped by 4%, falling to 1,421 TWh.
Coal is still the largest source of electricity in China, but its share fell from 63% to 58%. This is a sign that clean energy is starting to take over more of the power mix.
Gas-fired power also went down by 4%, reaching 67 TWh. Gas is a cleaner fossil fuel than coal, but it still produces carbon emissions. Reducing gas use along with coal is important for meeting climate goals.
As a result of these changes, the total electricity from fossil fuels dropped to 2,445 TWh in Q1 2025. While fossil fuels still provide more than half of China’s electricity, the gap is narrowing as clean energy continues to grow.
China Pulls Ahead in the Global Clean Energy Race
China’s clean energy growth was much higher than in other big economies. In the U.S., clean electricity rose by just 6% in early 2025. In Europe, it actually fell by 5% due to less hydro generation and delays in new wind projects.
This gap is expected to grow even more during the summer. China’s solar and hydro output usually peaks between July and August. That’s when the sun is strongest and the river water levels are high. Experts say China is likely to break more clean energy records later in the year.
In comparison, clean energy growth in the U.S. and Europe has slowed. This is partly due to rising costs, supply chain problems, and less government support. Meanwhile, China continues to invest heavily in clean power and has strong policy support from the government.
In 2024, China already saw a 15% increase in clean electricity. That was more than double the growth in the U.S. and Europe, which only grew by 6% each. If this trend continues, China will widen its lead even further in 2025.
More Records Expected in 2025
If current trends continue, 2025 could be China’s biggest year yet for clean electricity. Solar farms are expanding fast, and hydro power will increase as river levels rise during the rainy season. These factors, combined with nuclear growth, will boost the clean energy supply.
China is also adding more battery storage to help manage the power grid. Batteries can store extra solar or wind power and release it when demand is high. This helps keep the electricity system stable.
Experts believe China’s clean energy efforts could cut its carbon emissions by 30% by 2035—if current progress continues. The country is building a strong base for long-term change in how it produces and uses energy. This is important not just for China, but for the whole world, because China is the largest energy user and emitter of greenhouse gases.
Why China’s Energy Shift Matters for the World
China’s clean electricity generation reached a record 951 TWh in the first quarter of 2025. Clean sources now make up 39% of the country’s power mix, led by strong growth in solar and wind energy.
At the same time, coal and gas use have gone down. With more solar, wind, and hydro coming online in the next few months, China is on track for another record year.
While other countries are slowing down, China is pushing forward as a global leader in clean energy. The progress made so far in 2025 shows that China’s energy transition is speeding up—and could help shape the future of global energy for years to come.
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