Global renewable energy production 2020, by country

China was the largest producer of renewable energy in the world. In 2020, the country produced nearly 861.3 billion kilowatt hours of renewable energy. The United States and Germany followed as the second and third largest producers, at 608 and 256.8 billion kilowatt hours, respectively.

China’s push for an energy transition

As part of its Renewable Energy Development Plan series, China has made energy transition a key policy issue. Between 2010 and 2020, China’s renewable energy capacity nearly quadrupled. The country’s installed solar capacity increased substantially, from just four gigawatt hours in 2012 to more than 250 gigawatt hours in 2020. Despite these developments, China is still the leading emitter of CO₂ by a considerable margin.

Renewable energy: a cheaper alternative?

The cost of renewable energy sources fell considerably during the last decade. At the same time, global investments towards energy transition are on the rise, reaching 755 billion U.S. dollars in 2021. As an energy supply shortage led to skyrocketing prices in Europe and Asia that year, energy independence and less reliance on fossil fuels as a source of energy are becoming more and more attractive to nations around the world.