Wind power generators at a wind farm in Hami, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, in February 2021. (CAI ZENGLE / FOR CHINA DAILY)

BEIJING – China's installed capacity of renewable energy logged rapid growth in the first quarter of the year, as part of the country's efforts to pursue carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.

In the January-March period, the capacity of wind power jumped 17.4 percent year on year to 340 million kilowatts, while solar farms saw capacity reach 320 million kilowatts, with an increase of 22.9 percent, according to the National Energy Administration.

In the January-March period, the capacity of wind power jumped 17.4 percent year on year to 340 million kilowatts

By the end of March, the country's total installed power generation capacity hit about 2.4 billion kilowatts, rising 7.8 percent from a year ago, the data showed.

China has announced that it would strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

ALSO READ: China intensifies renewable energy development, utilization

The country is forging ahead in renewable energy development to improve its energy structure. According to an action plan released last year, it aims to increase the share of non-fossil energy consumption to around 25 percent by 2030.