China has emerged as a dominant force in solar power, particularly in Guizhou province, where expansive solar installations have transformed the landscape. Despite unfavorable agricultural conditions, Guizhou has capitalized on its geography for solar energy, achieving significant growth in solar capacity from 1.75 million kilowatts in 2018 to over 15 million kilowatts in 2023. The Chinese government supports this transition through subsidies and incentives, contributing to China's control of 64% of the global renewable energy construction market as of 2024, underscoring its commitment to tripling renewable energy output by 2030.
The Chinese government had previously promised in 2020 to triple its renewable energy output by 2030. It was an ambitious goal, especially as China was the world-leader in coal energy production.
By 2020, Guizhou reportedly reached over 10 million kilowatts in solar capacity, fueled by government subsidies, cheap bank loans for renewable energy companies, and cheap real estate in the province.
A video circulating recently on social media highlights the sheer scale of the operation, showing an entire mountain range in the Guizhou province of China blanketed in solar panels.
As of 2024, China was responsible for 64 percent of the world's utility-scale solar and wind construction, with 339 gigawatt hours of renewable energy infrastructure under construction.
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