In an enormous factory facility in Dalton, Georgia, USA, production is in full swing. Every day, all year round, South Korean Qcells produces 30,000 solar panels. Recently, it was announced that the factory will be expanded, with an annual production capacity of 5.1 gigawatts.
Strong growth
In recent years, renewable energy production in the USA has taken off. In 2021, nuclear power was surpassed, and the following year, coal.
Especially solar power has experienced strong growth. EIA estimates that it will grow by 75 percent – from 163 billion kilowatt-hours to 286 – between 2023 and 2025. Wind power is expected to grow by a more moderate 11 percent during the period to 476 billion kilowatt-hours.
Often in the USA, it's not about climate policy, but rather the market has decided that it's best, says Robbie Andrew at the Norwegian climate research institute Cicero.
The fact that the USA will get a climate-skeptical and fossil-fuel-friendly president next year will likely slow down the development.
Emissions in the USA will decrease regardless of politics. But politics could have driven them down much faster, says Andrew.
Major investment in electricity
On the other side of the planet, China accounts for around 30 percent of the world's emissions. In the mid-00s, the country surpassed the USA as the world's largest emitter, and emissions have increased since then. But much suggests that emissions have reached a plateau. Here, too, the energy transition plays a role.
Last year, China installed as much solar energy as the rest of the world. 339 gigawatts of solar and wind power parks are under construction, according to Science.
China has made a decision on key areas it focuses on to gain competitive and security advantages. It's a combination of keeping the economy going and reducing dependence on other countries. All of this points to the development in the energy sector with electric vehicles, batteries, and solar power, says Andrew.
Only electric buses in megacity
The megacity of Shenzhen, Hong Kong's mainland neighbor, became the first in the world with an all-electric bus fleet in 2017. The following year, all taxis were electric. This involves over 16,000 buses and 22,000 taxis in the city. In addition to the climate benefits, the vehicles are quieter and air pollution has decreased.
The same development can be seen in other cities in China, according to Andrew.
Local governments have had a strong will to take the lead in these new industries. So, the transition for buses, taxis, and various electric mopeds and the like has been quite dramatic.
China is the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, and released 16 billion tons of CO2 equivalents last year, 5.2 percent more than the previous year. Emissions per capita are 11 tons per person.
The USA is the world's second-largest emitter, and the country that has historically released the most greenhouse gases. In 2023, the USA accounted for 5,970 million tons, 1.4 percent lower than the previous year. Emissions are 18 tons per person.
