China tops the world in wind and hydro power

China's installed wind capacity grew 28x in the last six years.

The China Electricity Council (CEC) said that in the last six years, China's installed wind power generating capacity has increased from 2,000 megawatts (MW) to 52,580 MW. In 2011, China generated 70.6 terrawatt hours of wind power, a 96% increase.

China estimates its wind generating capacity at more than 100,000 MW in 2015 and 200,000 MW in 2020. Its cumulative capacity is now 118 times more than that of 10 years ago, making China the world’s top wind energy provider, said CEC.

China is also increasing its construction of hydro power projects. It is already home to the Three Gorges Dam Project, the world’s largest hydro power complex project, which includes approximately one million square kilometers of drainage area and averages a runoff of 451 billion cubic metres annually. The dam stands 185 metres high and stretches 2,309 metres wide.

CEC said that China is witnessing soaring growth in other clean energy sectors. Its solar photovoltaic power capacity has been increasing by over 50% annually.

China's plan is continue to optimize its energy infrastructure by developing new energy sources to secure future energy supplies.