This photo taken on Oct. 22, 2026 shows the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. (Xinhua/Wang Zecong)
ABU DHABI, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- China has made an important contribution to the global energy transition and carbon emissions reduction by advancing renewable energy technologies, expanding manufacturing capacity and lowering the cost of clean energy equipment, the head of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) said in an interview with Xinhua.
"The first contribution of China to the energy transition is providing low-cost technologies to the world," IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera told Xinhua on Thursday, noting that China supplies solar panels at highly competitive prices and has helped drive down the costs of solar, wind and battery technologies.
"We have seen a sharp decrease in the cost of solar panels, wind turbine components and batteries," La Camera said. "This has been driven by technological progress coming from China."
La Camera said China's contribution is evident both internationally and domestically. Internationally, China has made renewable technologies and equipment more affordable and accessible to countries seeking to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. Domestically, it has continued to invest heavily in renewables and rapidly expand its clean power capacity.
According to China's National Energy Administration, the country's installed photovoltaic power capacity reached 1.286 billion kilowatts by the end of July, surpassing coal-fired power capacity for the first time and becoming the country's largest power source in terms of installed capacity.
La Camera said the development reflected China's progress in transforming its energy system and fulfilling its international commitments on climate change and carbon emissions reduction, with some targets achieved ahead of schedule.
Having visited renewable energy facilities across China, the IRENA chief said he was impressed by the country's technological advances and the scale of its projects, describing its offshore wind progress as "amazing."
Looking ahead, La Camera called for stronger international cooperation to make renewable energy more accessible to developing countries and the Global South.
Strengthening power grids is essential to sustaining renewable growth, attracting investment and ensuring clean electricity reaches consumers, he added.
La Camera said closer cooperation on technology, financing and infrastructure could enable more countries to benefit from falling renewable energy costs and accelerate global emission reduction, noting that China's experience shows that technological progress and large-scale deployment can reinforce each other. ■
Francesco La Camera, director-general of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, Oct. 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Zecong)
This photo taken on Oct. 22, 2026 shows the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. (Xinhua/Wang Zecong)
Francesco La Camera, director-general of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, Oct. 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Zecong)
