CHINA’S State Council Information Office on Thursday released a white paper titled “China’s Energy Transition” to document the country’s successful actions and historic achievements in this field over the past decade.

Besides the preface and conclusion, the white paper consists of six parts: “China’s Path of Energy Transition in the New Era,” “Promoting Green Energy Consumption,” “Moving Faster to Build a New Energy Supply System,” “Developing New Quality Productive Forces in the Energy Sector,” “Modernizing Energy Governance,” and “Contributing to a Global Community of Shared Future.”

Over the past decade, China has furthered reform of its energy production and consumption methods, upgraded its energy supply capacity under the guidance of its new energy security strategy, and achieved historic breakthroughs in green and low-carbon energy development, according to the white paper.

The country’s energy intensity has decreased steadily over the past decade, leading to energy savings equivalent to about 1.4 billion tonnes of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 3 billion tonnes, said the white paper, adding that China has become the world’s largest investor in energy transition.

“Based on high-quality development, China’s energy transition aims to build a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system. This initiative will provide a strong guarantee for the country’s economic and social development and meet the people’s growing desire for a better life,” said the white paper.

China’s green energy development has become an engine for global energy transition. Since 2013, China has been responsible for over 40% of the annual additions to global renewable energy capacity. In 2023, the newly installed capacity in China accounted for more than half of the world’s total, according to the white paper.

As a strong advocate of global energy transition, China will work with other members of the international community to plan energy cooperation together, address global climate change, promote harmony between humanity and nature, and create a clean and beautiful world for all, the white paper said.

The International Energy Agency recognized in a report that China is a front-runner in the global renewable energy sector and a major driving force behind the world’s rapid expansion of renewable energy capacity.

From 2014 to 2023, the share of non-fossil fuels in global energy consumption rose from 13.6% to 18.5%, with China contributing 45.2% to this increase, said the white paper.

According to a report from the International Renewable Energy Agency, global wind power projects have seen the average power generation cost per kilowatt-hour decrease more than 60% over the past decade, and photovoltaic power projects have seen a cost decrease by more than 80%. The reductions are largely attributable to China’s green energy shift.

China’s further opening up has created new opportunities for deeper international cooperation on clean energy, said the white paper. Restrictions on foreign investment have been removed in all energy industries except nuclear power plants.

Multinationals such as GE, BP and Siemens are steadily expanding their investment in China’s energy sector. Many foreign projects are well underway across the country, including EDF’s offshore wind power project, Tesla’s electric vehicle project in Shanghai, and LG Energy Solution’s battery project in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province.(Xinhua)