China has unveiled what it says will become the world’s largest solar power project, a sprawling facility on the Tibetan plateau covering 610 square kilometers — an area roughly the size of Chicago.

The project highlights China’s rapid expansion in renewable energy. A new study released Thursday found the country’s carbon emissions dropped 1% in the first half of 2025 compared to a year earlier, continuing a trend that began in March 2024. Analysts say this suggests emissions may have peaked years ahead of Beijing’s 2030 target.

Lauri Myllyvirta of the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air said China must now accelerate reductions, averaging 3% annually to meet its pledge of carbon neutrality by 2060. “China needs to get to that 3% territory as soon as possible,” he said.

Unlike previous declines tied to economic slowdowns, this fall in emissions comes even as electricity demand rose 3.7%. Solar, wind, and nuclear energy outpaced growth in demand, with China adding 212 gigawatts of solar capacity in just six months — more than the U.S.’s entire total.

Li Shuo of the Asia Society Policy Institute called the development “a moment of global significance,” showing that emissions can fall even as the economy grows. Still, he warned coal dependency remains a major obstacle.

China achieves major progress in building world's highest solar observatory

On the plateau, millions of solar panels are already producing electricity while supporting grazing land for “photovoltaic sheep.” Once complete, the farm will power 5 million households.

Challenges remain, especially moving electricity from western deserts to eastern industrial hubs. Massive transmission lines are being built, but experts say China’s coal-oriented grid must be restructured to handle variable renewable energy.

Source: Agency