CHINA has seen rapid development of renewable energy in 2021, laying a solid foundation for the country’s pursuit of its carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, according to a report.

Last year, the country’s renewable energy utilization amounts to the equivalent of saving 750 million tons of standard coal, helping reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 1.95 billion tons, the report released by the China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute showed.

China’s installed capacity of renewable energy reached one billion kilowatts in 2021, accounting for 44.8% of the country’s total installed power capacity, the report said.

In terms of power generation, the country’s renewable energy generated 2.48 trillion kilowatt-hours (kWhs) of electricity in 2021, accounting for 29.7% of the total power generation, it said.

By the end of May this year, the country’s installed capacity of renewable energy hit a new record high by exceeding 1.1 billion kilowatts, the report noted.

The rapid development of renewable energy has made a positive contribution to building a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system, it said.

China announced that it will strive for peaking carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.

China is forging ahead in renewable energy development to boost its energy structure. According to a five-year plan issued this month, by 2025, the country’s annual power generation from renewables will reach 3.3 trillion kWhs, and renewable energy consumption will amount to the equivalent of saving 1 billion tons of standard coal.

China will accelerate the construction of storage facilities and upgrade its power grids to feature intelligent functions, in an effort to accommodate the development of clean energy, according to the plan. (Xinhua)