In the transformative year of 2023, China witnessed an extraordinary surge in clean energy, steering its economic landscape into uncharted territory. A groundbreaking analysis by Carbon Brief illuminates the pivotal role played by solar power, electric vehicles (EVs), and batteries, propelling China’s economic growth to unprecedented heights and outshining all other sectors.

A Clean-Energy Tsunami

Revelatory figures from the analysis underscore the magnitude of this clean-energy surge, with a staggering 11.4 trillion yuan (US$1.6 trillion) injected into China’s economy. This marked a substantial increase from previous years and represented the entirety of the country’s investment growth, eclipsing all other sectors in economic expansion.

Solar power emerged as the linchpin, accompanied by robust manufacturing capacities for solar panels, EVs, and batteries. This broad spectrum of clean energy, spanning renewables, nuclear power, electricity grids, energy storage, EVs, and railways, played a crucial role in China’s ambitious decarbonization agenda.

A Closer Look at the Numbers

40% YoY Surge in Clean-Energy Investment: Clean-energy investment witnessed an impressive 40 percent year-on-year surge, reaching a formidable 6.3 trillion yuan (US$890 billion). This not only fueled investment growth across the entire Chinese economy but nearly matched global investments in fossil fuel supply for the entire year.

Clean Energy’s Economic Dominance: Clean-energy sectors contributed a whopping 11.4 trillion yuan (US$1.6 trillion) to China’s economy, marking a 30 percent increase from the previous year. Astonishingly, it constituted 40 percent of China’s GDP expansion in 2023.

Economic Lifesaver: Without the robust growth from clean-energy sectors, China would have fallen short of its targeted GDP growth, achieving only 3.0 percent instead of the actual 5.2 percent.

Navigating Challenges: Overcapacity and Strategic Decisions

While the surge in clean-energy investment paints a rosy picture, concerns loom over potential overcapacity. Cautious management of China’s investment-driven economic model becomes imperative to sustain this unprecedented growth. The clean-energy boom coincided with a contraction in China’s real estate sector for the second consecutive year, emphasizing the pivotal role played by clean energy in broader economic and industrial policy frameworks.

The ‘New Three’ Shaping China’s Economic Horizon

Delving into the heart of China’s clean-energy revolution, the analysis unveils the dominance of the “new three” sectors: solar, energy storage, and electric vehicles (EVs). These sectors witnessed meteoric growth, with investment in clean power generation and energy storage capacity surging by 48 percent, while manufacturing capacity for solar, EVs, and batteries experienced a remarkable 60 percent increase.

Sector Spotlight: Solar Brilliance, Wind Power Surge, and EV Triumph

The ‘new three’ sectors each had their moment in the spotlight:

Solar Brilliance

 Solar power emerged as the undisputed champion, contributing 1 trillion yuan to new investments, goods, and services. China’s solar installation landscape saw a record-breaking 200GW added in 2023, doubling the previous year’s achievement.

Wind Power Surge

China’s wind power capacity soared, with 41GW added in the first 11 months of 2023, an 84 percent year-on-year increase. Onshore wind accounted for 60GW, while offshore wind added an impressive 6GW.

EV Triumph

China’s electric vehicle production surged by 36 percent, reaching 9.6 million units in 2023. EVs constituted 32 percent of all vehicles produced, with 8.3 million sold domestically and 1.2 million exported.

Diversification Beyond ‘New Three’: From Energy Efficiency to Hydrogen

Energy Efficiency

Investments in energy efficiency reached 0.6 trillion yuan in 2023, driven by China’s energy intensity reduction targets.

Electricity Storage and Hydrogen

Focus on electricity storage and green hydrogen production gained momentum, reflecting China’s commitment to advancing clean energy technologies.

Railways, Nuclear Power, and Electricity Grids

Investments in railways, nuclear power, and electricity grids played a pivotal role in driving connectivity and clean energy bases across the nation.

Macro Shifts & Clean Energy as the New Economic Driver

China’s macroeconomic strategy underwent a seismic shift in 2023, channeling investment from real estate into manufacturing, particularly in the clean-energy sector. This strategic redirection, prompted by the real estate sector’s contraction, resulted in a substantial increase in total manufacturing industry investment.

China’s Role in the Clean Energy Landscape & Global Implications

China’s newfound reliance on clean technology not only elevates its economic and political significance but accelerates the global energy transition. The monumental investments in clean technology manufacturing and exports position China as a pivotal player in the global clean energy market.

The ripple effects of China’s clean-energy manufacturing boom extend globally, driving down prices and facilitating faster adoption of clean-energy technologies. The IEA’s projections suggest that if solar power deployment follows manufacturing expansion, global coal use and carbon dioxide emissions could decrease by 15 percent by 2030, with China leading the charge.

The Road Ahead: Choices for Other Nations

As the world witnesses China’s clean-energy journey unfold, nations face a choice—embrace China’s low-cost clean-energy supply or invest in domestic supply chains. While the former offers immediate benefits, the latter entails subsidies and import tariffs to foster domestic competition.

China’s 2023 clean-energy surge not only marks a historic economic shift but heralds a new era of global energy transformation. Clean technology, led by China’s unprecedented growth, takes center stage in driving sustainable growth and combating climate change. The impact of China’s clean-energy revolution extends far beyond its borders, shaping the future of energy on a global scale.