This undated photo shows solar panels capturing sunlight in a desert in China. China accelerated the development of clean energy in 2018, with the installed capacity of renewable energy exceeding 700 million kilowatts, the National Energy Administration said. (ZOU HONG / CHINA DAILY)

BEIJING - China accelerated the development of clean energy in 2018, with the installed capacity of renewable energy exceeding 700 million kilowatts, the National Energy Administration said.

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According to the administratiion, China will continue to boost the oil-and-gas industry growth this year, increase efforts in oil and gas exploration, and build more pipelines and gas storage facilities.

China has adopted a number of measures to encourage clean energy development, including building vast solar and wind farms, with an aim to make non-fossil energy meeting 20 percent of its energy needs by 2030.

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To reach this goal, China is heavily investing in renewable energy, pledging to invest 2.5 trillion yuan (US$373 billion) in renewable power generation - solar, wind, hydro and nuclear - by 2020.