China is not just participating in the global energy transition, it is leading it. A new report by London-based think tank Ember confirms that China’s manufacturing strength, strategic investments, and long-term vision have made it the driving force behind the world’s clean energy shift, accelerating decarbonization worldwide.
China’s government recognized early that the fossil fuel-centered growth model had reached its limits. In response, it committed to building an “ecological civilisation”, a concept enshrined in the Constitution since 2018, that aims to balance economic growth with social and environmental progress. This strategic vision has transformed not just China’s energy landscape but the entire global market.
The numbers tell the story. China produces 60% of the world’s wind turbines and 80% of solar panels, driving costs down to historic lows. Since 2010, solar module prices have dropped by over 90%, enabling countries everywhere to deploy renewable energy faster and more affordably. Today, solar modules cost under 10 cents per watt, and battery storage is below $70 per kilowatt-hour, milestones that are making clean energy more accessible to everyone.
China’s approach is not limited to domestic development. Its battery and EV companies have invested around $80 billion in facilities overseas, helping build clean energy capacity in emerging markets and supporting global energy security. In 2024, China invested nearly one-third of the world’s total renewable energy funding $625 billion, far ahead of Europe and the U.S. This investment boom added $1.9 trillion to China’s economy, with the clean energy sector growing three times faster than the rest of the economy.
Far from being an isolated effort, China’s clean energy drive is reshaping global markets. Its state-led coordination of manufacturing, deployment, and export policies has created a powerful ecosystem that other nations are now emulating. Even large-scale initiatives such as the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act have been spurred by China’s example.
While China continues to balance its rapid development with emission reduction targets, its progress is laying the foundation for a more sustainable future. By investing early, China has made clean technologies affordable and scalable, ensuring that the global transition to low-carbon energy happens faster than it otherwise would have.
China’s leadership is not just a national achievement, it is a global public good. Its commitment to renewable energy has catalyzed innovation, created new export opportunities, and brought the world closer to a future powered by clean energy.