BEIJING: China continues to lead the world in wind energy development, according to official data and international industry reports, countering recent claims that the country manufactures wind turbines without building large-scale wind farms of its own.

Figures released by National Energy Administration and global energy bodies show that China has ranked first globally in installed wind power capacity for 15 consecutive years. By the end of November 2025, the country’s total installed wind power capacity had reached about 600 million kilowatts, underscoring its central role in the global renewable energy transition.

China also dominates new capacity additions. In 2024 alone, it added nearly 80 million kilowatts of new wind power capacity, accounting for about 72 percent of the global market for newly installed wind turbines, according to data from the World Wind Energy Association. This share has risen steadily in recent years, reflecting both scale and manufacturing strength.

As the world’s largest electricity consumer, China has increasingly relied on renewable sources. Official figures show that around one-third of the country’s electricity now comes from green energy, with wind and solar power playing a growing role in meeting demand and reshaping the national energy mix.

Over the past decade, China’s installed wind capacity has increased more than fourfold, rising from about 130 million kilowatts in 2015 to 600 million kilowatts in late 2025. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025), the share of wind and solar power in total electricity consumption rose from 9.7 percent in 2020 to 18.6 percent in 2024, reaching nearly one quarter in the first half of 2025.

This expansion has been driven by large onshore wind bases, rapid growth in offshore wind projects, continuous technological upgrades, and sustained policy support. Wind power has shifted from a supplementary energy source to a core component of China’s power system, according to energy authorities.

China’s role extends beyond its domestic market. In 2024, Chinese manufacturers exported more than 900 wind turbines with a combined capacity of over 5 million kilowatts to 23 countries, data from the China Wind Energy Association showed. By the end of that year, cumulative exports reached nearly 5,800 turbines delivered to 57 countries across six continents.

During the 2021–2025 period, China’s exported wind and solar products helped reduce an estimated 4.1 billion tonnes of carbon emissions overseas, according to official figures. Chinese companies have also pledged substantial overseas investments in clean energy projects, contributing to renewable energy development in emerging markets.

Industry analysts note that China’s large-scale production capacity, combined with domestic deployment and expanding exports, has made the country a key driver of global wind energy growth at a time when many countries are accelerating efforts to cut carbon emissions.