IEA says China remains leader of renewables

PARIS - China remains the "undisputed leader of renewable electricity capacity expansion", Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA) said Wednesday.

IEA's new report on renewable energy showed new solar PV (photovoltaic) system capacity grew by 50 percent last year, with China accounting for almost half of the global expansion.

"China's renewables growth is largely driven by concerns about air pollution and capacity targets that were outlined in the country's 13th five-year plan to 2020," the agency said in the report.

"In fact, China already exceeded its 2020 solar PV target three years ahead of time and is set to achieve its onshore wind target in 2019," it added.

By 2022, China is predicted to produce over 360 GW of green energy, representing 40 percent of the world's total output, according to the report.

Thanks to strong performance of solar PV market, renewable energy accounted for almost two-thirds of net new power capacity around the world in 2016. The figure is set to increase by 43 percent over the next five years, said the report.