Aug 21, 05:00 PM

China’s Solar Output to Exceed 1,200 TWh in 2025 With 3% Emissions Drop and 610 sq km Tibetan Solar Farm

China is rapidly expanding its solar energy capacity, contributing to a reduction in power sector emissions. In the first half of 2025, emissions fell by 3% compared to the same period in 2024. Solar power production in July 2025 was approximately 50% higher than in July 2024. China generated 839 terawatt-hours (TWh) of solar electricity in 2024 and is expected to exceed 1,200 TWh in 2025, which would amount to about 27% of the United States' electricity demand. The country plans to build more solar capacity in 2025 than the total current solar capacity of the U.S. Additionally, China recently activated a large power transmission line to deliver renewable energy from desert regions to its industrial heartland. The Chinese government is also constructing what it claims will be the world's largest solar farm on a Tibetan plateau, covering 610 square kilometers (235 square miles), roughly the size of Chicago. This expansion aligns with China's emissions targets and contrasts with previous reliance on coal and gas in energy-starved regions, where cheap Chinese solar panels are now influencing energy choices. Meanwhile, in the U.S., half of new electric generating capacity is reported to come from solar energy, according to the Energy Information Administration.

#China #United States #Chinese #Tibetan #Chicago #Energy Information Administration

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