China is now the biggest producer of solar energy

You probably don’t think of China as a green energy champion because of its frequent problems with smog and continued dependence on coal power, but you may have to rethink your views after today.

The National Energy Administration has revealed that their solar energy production is doubled in 2016 and they just hit 77.42 gigawatts and by the end of the year.

China is now the world’s biggest producer of solar energy in terms of capacity – it doesn’t compare as well relative to population.

Solar is drop in the bucket for China and it represents just 1 percent of the country’s total output.

The NEA plans to add more than 110 gigawatts of energy by the end of 2020, which will provide a bigger role for technology in few years. It will help China increase its use of non-fossil fuel power 11 percent now to 20% by 2030.

Well, not every country can compete with China in such increases. Even if you discount the population advantage China has large regions that relatively friendly to solar energy farms.

Still, this puts pressure on the world to up its game. Progressing countries like the United States may be seen as trailing behind, especially with policies that are bent on protecting fossil fuel industry instead of phasing it out.