Climate Changed

China Shines Bright as Solar Leads Record Renewables Investment

  • UN, BNEF report says over half of new solar capacity in China
  • Global renewables investment up 2 percent to $280 billion

An employee performs a final inspection on solar cells on the production line 

Photographer: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg

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Solar investments eclipsed all other forms of electricity generation in 2017 as China’s green boom accelerated.

Investors worldwide plowed a record $161 billion into solar energy last year, more than half the investment in all renewables apart from large hydroelectric projects, according to a report jointly published by the United Nations and Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Total investment in renewables rose 2 percent to $280 billion.