China to join international renewables body - SolarStar

China has announced its intention to join the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA  ).

Despite ongoing trade wars between China and both the US and European Union, it will become the 161st member of the body, which is lobbying to double the share of renewable energy worldwide by 2030.

China is the world’s largest energy producer, with total installed electrical power generation capacity of 1140GW, and is increasingly turning to renewable energy to power its fast-growing economy.

Its installed generating capacity of solar PV  power has reached 7GW, a tenfold increase over two years. China is also a manufacturing powerhouse for solar PV, wind and hydro power technology.

“The decision by China to join IRENA is a milestone in international efforts to promote renewable energy,” said IRENA’s Director-General Adnan Z. Amin. “I am delighted with the confidence China has shown in IRENA and I look forward to their active participation in the global effort for a clean energy future for all.”

However, China has been accused by both the European and North American solar industries of unfair dumping of subsidised solar products into both markets, prompting two increasingly heated trade wars.