China’s Energy Transition: A Decade of Carbon-Neutral Progress

Energy is a vital material foundation for human survival, and the low-carbon development concerns the future of humanity. Over the past decade China has accelerated construction of a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient new energy system, providing strong energy security for economic and social development while promoting carbon reduction, pollution reduction, green expansion and growth.

From 2013 to 2023 the share of clean-energy consumption rose from 15.5% to 26.4%, while coal fell about 12.1%. Total installed power capacity reached 2.92×10⁹ kW, of which clean sources account for 1.7×10⁹ kW (58.2 %). Clean generation hit 3.8×10¹² kWh, 39.7% of the total, an increase of ~15%. Primary-energy production capacity grew 35%; cumulative fixed-asset investment in the energy sector reached ¥39×10¹². Average coal consumption for power supply fell to 303 g standard coal kWh⁻¹; over 95% of coal units achieve ultra-low emission, cutting power-sector pollutant emissions by > 90%. Energy consumption per unit GDP dropped > 26%; PM₂.₅ concentration −54 %; heavy-pollution days −83%. Per-capita residential electricity doubled from ~500 kWh to nearly 1000 kWh; natural-gas users reached 560×10⁶. Rural rooftop PV reached 120×10⁶ kW, raising farmers’ income ¥11×10⁹ yr⁻¹ and creating ~2×10⁶ jobs. By end-2023 national charging infrastructure reached nearly 8.6×10⁶ units.

Wind and solar lead: cumulative installed wind 441×10⁶ kW and PV 609×10⁶ kW—ten times the 2013 level—of which distributed PV exceeds 250×10⁶ kW. Four 45×10⁶ kW desert bases, 37×10⁶ kW offshore wind, “thousands of townships wind action” and “thousands of households light action” are under way. Conventional hydropower reached 370×10⁶ kW; nearly 4 000 small stations upgraded. Nuclear in-operation capacity reached 56.91×10⁶ kW (3.9 times that at the end of 2013); total operation plus construction 100.33×10⁶ kW. Biomass power reached 44.14×10⁶ kW; geothermal and ocean energy advance.

Coal washing rate, mine-water reuse and land-reclamation rate all rose > 10%. Over 100×10⁶ kW backward coal capacity retired; > 95% of units achieve ultra-low emission; > 50% gain deep peak-load flexibility. Crude output stable at ~200×10⁶ t; natural-gas output rises > 10×10⁹ m³ yr⁻¹ for seven consecutive years. CCUS technology deployed in green oilfield demonstration areas; oil quality upgraded from National III to VI in < 10 years. 

By 2035 green production and consumption will be widely formed, non-fossil energy will accelerate toward the main energy, and the new power system will strongly support energy transition. By mid-century China’s clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient new energy system will be fully established, energy utilization efficiency will reach advanced global levels, non-fossil energy will become the main energy, and carbon neutrality before 2060 will be achieved.