Wind, solar power set to sustain green goals

China's commitment to increase the installed capacity of wind and solar power to more than 1,200 gigawatts by 2030 and boost the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 25 percent by the same period is testimony to its firm resolve for green development, said experts.

On the fifth anniversary of the landmark Paris climate agreement, the proposals, which also includes lowering carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product by over 65 percent from the 2005 level, demonstrate the country's determination and wisdom to seek sustainable development.

The country's new proposals and commitments have accelerated the dynamics of its ambitious global climate actions, said Joseph Jacobelli, an independent energy analyst and executive vice-president for Asia at Cenfura, a global renewable energy company.

"Given the urgency to decarbonize the economy, I am convinced that China will have as much onshore and offshore wind installations as possible. But it is much more important to look at what the grid networks will do to accommodate the continued surge in variable renewable energy. That is the nation's chief challenge going forward," he said.

China's first international pledge specifically on renewables capacity is encouraging, and the target calls for a growth level similar to the installations over the past two years, said Luan Dong, China renewable analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

Luan believes China should be able to surpass the 1,200 GW target.

According to the National Energy Administration, non-fossil fuels accounted for 15.3 percent of the country's energy consumption last year, fulfilling China's promise to the global community for 2020 ahead of schedule.

By the end of 2019, China's installed capacity for renewables reached 794 million kilowatts, up 9 percent on a yearly basis. Installed capacity for wind power reached 210 million kW, up 14 percent on a yearly basis, while that for solar reached 204 million kW, up 17.3 percent on a yearly basis, it said.

The country also ranked first worldwide in newly installed wind capacity during the first 10 months of the year, adding 18.29 million kW of wind power capacity, up 3.63 million kW from a year ago. It is also a global leader in the production and use of solar energy and hydropower, said the administration.

China has made and kept solemn vows to the world in response to climate change, pursuing greener development over the span of the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20).

According to Huaxi Securities, new energy, especially solar and other renewable power, will be the main driver of energy growth in China during the next five years.