Wind solar and energy storage projects under construction

In total, the amount of utility-scale solar and wind capacity under construction in China make up nearly two-thirds of the solar and wind capacity under construction worldwide, the report found. The report follows the China Electricity Council (CEC)'s predictions from early 2024 that solar and wind capacity would outpace coal in China this year.

The study, published on Tuesday, shows that China accounts for 29% of all planned wind and solar projects globally and a whopping 74% of the projects under construction. The pipeline includes 709 GW of solar capacity, of which 287 GW under construction, and 593 GW of wind capacity, of which 223 GW in the building phase.

Of this, 510 GW is already under construction, primed to be added to China's 1.4 TW solar and wind capacity already in operation. As of March 2025, China has emerged as the world's offshore wind powerhouse — growing from under 5 GW in 2018 to 42.7 GW in 2025 (50% of global capacity).

China is building pumped-storage hydropower facilities to increase the flexibility of the power grid and accommodate growing wind and solar power. As of May 2023, China had 50 gigawatts (GW) of operational pumped-storage capacity, 30% of global capacity and more than any other country.

China continues to install solar and wind power at a record pace, with 1.3 TW of utility-scale solar and wind capacity in development, of which 510 GW is under construction, according to a report from Global Energy Monitor (GEM). Ningxia wind farm using Goldwind turbines. Author: Land Rover Our Planet.

The report notes that, according to the National Energy Administration (NEA), in the first quarter of 2025, China's wind and solar capacity exceeded its thermal capacity for the first time, providing nearly 23% of the country's electricity consumption, up from about 18% in the first quarter of 2024.