China File
China has overtaken Europe to become the world’s biggest producer of wind power after its domestic sector grew by 60 percent last year.
Following a government-backed drive to build new wind farms, China’s installed capacity now totals 145.1 GW, surpassing the E.U.’s 141.6 GW, according to a new report by Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) published earlier this month.
“Wind power is leading the charge in the transition away from fossil fuels,” said Steve Sawyer, Secretary General of GWEC.
“Wind is blowing away the competition on price, performance, and reliability, and we’re seeing new markets open up across Africa, Asia, and Latin America which will become the market leaders of the next decade,” he added.
The Chinese government’s drive for clean energy is motivated by the need to reduce its dependence on coal at a time when heavy industry is slowing down, and when the choking smog that shrouds China’s cities is causing a national healthcare crisis.
