China has become a major investor in the global renewable energy sector, having pumped $44bn into new energy technology and resources last year up from $32bn in 2016, according to figures from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). From 2003 to 2017, the majority of China's foreign power investments in Southeast Asia went to hydro ($45 billion) and coal ($12 billion) projects, amounts significantly higher than Chinese wind investment in the European Union ($6.8 billion) and Australia ($5 billion). The country is also investing heavily in wind power – with more than half of its total installed capacity now being used on that form of energy. Although investment has increased in countries linked to its Belt and Road initiative, most of China's renewable investments are outside those areas.
China has become a major investor in the global renewable energy sector, having pumped $44bn into new energy technology and resources last year up from $32bn in 2016, according to figures from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). The country is also investing heavily in wind power – with more than half of its total installed capacity now being used on that form of energy. Although investment has increased in countries linked to its Belt and Road initiative, most of China's renewable investments are outside those areas.