China is making significant strides in green energy transition, emerging as a global leader boasting one-third of the world's installed capacity for solar and wind power, according to Beate Trankmann, Resident Representative for China at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
In a recent interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) in Beijing, Trankmann praised China's green transition efforts and highlighted areas where the country could make further progress.
"China is already actually a leader in green energy. One third of solar and wind power installed capacity in the world is right here in China. I think one area is, for example, going forward to see how more renewable energy can actually be fed into the grid. [China's] green energy generation capacity is already over 50 percent, but energy output is at 30 percent. So that points to issues in grid infrastructure, in storage capacities, but also in market regulations. And I think that's an area where China can do more work," said Trankmann.
The newly installed capacity of renewable energy in 2024 accounted for 86 percent of China's total newly installed power capacity, while the cumulative installed capacity of renewable energy made up a record high of 56 percent of the nation's total in the year, according to data from the National Energy Administration (NEA).
Last year was the second year that China's cumulative installed capacity of renewable energy power generation exceeded 50 percent of the country's total installed capacity.
Trankmann also underscored that as China pushes forward with its green transformation, the UNDP is working to ensure that emerging technologies, like hydrogen fuel cells, are accessible to all.
"In particular, from UNDP's perspective, again, what we are looking at is that these types of technologies that we can make sure [is] that everyone has access [to] and benefits from them, so that their application doesn't actually exacerbate existing divides or even create new fault lines. One example of the type of work that we're doing in that area is working with two vocational educational colleges in Foshan and in Changshu - for [cultivating] hydrogen fuel cell engineers. And that's actually the first dedicated program for the hydrogen economy and hydrogen engineers in China. And 30 percent of these students are women," said Trankmann.
China takes lead in global green transition efforts: U.N. official
