Clean Energy in China - Clean Air Policy Brief 2019

This document summarizes China’s ongoing shift toward a cleaner energy system driven by air-pollution control, climate policy, and rapid advances in clean technologies. It details four pillars of action—curbing energy demand, constraining coal use, expanding clean supply, and accelerating end-use efficiency—and reports measurable gains: wind and solar capacity rose from 70 GW to 300 GW between 2012 and 2017, while coal’s share of primary energy fell from 67% to 60%; China now accounts for about one third of global renewable capacity. Policy instruments include the Renewable Energy Law, feed-in tariffs, five-year planning, emissions trading, and rising investment; nuclear approvals in early 2019 signal continued diversification.