The leading country by far for renewable energy investment in 2017 was China, which accounted for $126.6 billion, its highest figure ever and no less than 45% of the global total. There was an extraordinary solar boom in that country in 2017, with some 53GW installed (more than the whole world market as recently as 2014), and solar investment of $86.5 billion, up 58%. The world installed a record number of new solar power projects in 2017, more than net additions of coal, gas and nuclear plants put together. China has been the leading destination for renewable energy investment, accounting for 45% of the global total last year. Solar alone accounted for 98GW, or 38% of the net new power capacity coming on stream during 2017, with China accounting for just over half of that capacity.

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