An incredible new video that has gone viral on social media reveals an indelible landscape: The whole mountain range of Guizhou province, China, has been covered with solar panels. When seen from above, the drone shows an awe-inspiring view of thousands of solar farms, highlighting China’s impressive supremacy in the world’s solar energy production.
Guizhou, with its rugged terrain, unpredictable weather, and little agricultural potential, has become a significant player in China’s renewable energy success story. The first solar installation in the province made its debut in 2015, but it was only in recent times that substantial growth started. In 2018, Guizhou solar power generated 1.75 million kilowatts annually. With the help of incentives such as government subsidies, easy bank financing, and vast unused land, solar power in Guizhou grew from 1.75 million kilowatts in 2018 to 10 million kilowatts in 2020 and then to an impressive 15 million kilowatts by 2023.
This surge in solar energy is a key component of China’s plan to triple its renewable energy production by 2030, which may be realized earlier than anticipated. By 2024, China accounted for an astounding 64% of all global utility-scale solar and wind projects, with 339 gigawatt hours of renewable energy under construction, far exceeding the 72 gigawatts of the next four countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, and Spain.
While China is still very reliant on coal, the source that constitutes 57% of its grid, it is evident that China is making great strides towards renewable energy. The Guizhou solar fields are much more than impressive technology; they are a bold symbol of China’s push for renewable energy. Despite the daunting challenges of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, such developments are indicative of China’s actual commitment to taking real steps—building its renewable infrastructure panel by panel.
