Solar overtakes coal as China's largest source of installed power capacity
The National Energy Administration said 1,286 gigawatts of solar capacity exceeded coal as rapid renewable growth continued despite slower installations.
- As of the end of July 2026, China's installed solar power capacity reached 1.286 billion kilowatts, surpassing coal-fired power for the first time as the country's largest power source, the National Energy Administration said.
- Coal has been China's key power generation source for decades, driving planet-warming emissions. The China Electricity Council flagged that solar capacity was just 1 GW behind coal at the end of June, signaling the imminent transition.
- Solar generation rose 15.5% from a year earlier to 802.4 billion kilowatt-hours in the first seven months of 2026. The country added 86 GWs of solar during this period, following a record 315 gigawatts installed last year.
- This milestone occurs even as the record pace of renewable installations has slowed significantly in 2026 following a policy overhaul. Investment in the sector is expected to top two trillion yuan over the next five years.
- The NEA said solar capacity and generation "have maintained a steady trend of rapid growth," playing an "increasingly prominent role" in driving the energy transition. China has pledged to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve neutrality by 2060.
62 Articles
62 Articles
Hong Kong Free Press
China says solar power capacity surpasses coal for first time
China’s installed solar energy capacity has surpassed that of coal-fired power for the first time, the national energy body said Tuesday, hailing the milestone. China, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases that drive climate change, has pledged to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. “As of the end of […]
The solar has just crossed a historic threshold in China: its installations can now provide more power than all coal-fired power plants. But this theoretical capacity does not correspond to the electricity actually produced. And the Chinese system still remains largely organized around coal.
The photovoltaic capacity installed in China exceeded for the first time that of the coal-fired power plants, becoming the country's largest electricity source category for installed capacity. This was announced by the National Energy Administration (Nea). At the end of July, the country's total electricity generation capacity reached 4,08 billion kW, with photovoltaics representing more than 30% of the total, having reached 1,286 billion kW, co…
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