Solar overtakes coal as China's largest source of installed power capacity
Solar reached 1,286 gigawatts, or 31.5% of installed capacity, as China’s renewable buildout slowed after a policy overhaul.
- 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.
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96 Articles
China’s solar eclipse of the US
China now produces more power via solar than coal for the first time ever, with rays of the sun accounting for more than 30% of the country’s total installed power generation, according to Chinese state TV. China, which remains the world’s leading overall greenhouse gas emitter, has leaned heavily into renewable energy installation and generation in recent years and is now the global leader in wind and solar power.
Solar Surpasses Coal in China’s Overall Capacity
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Solar Overtakes Coal as China’s Biggest Power Source by Capacity
Solar Overtakes Coal as China’s Biggest Power Source by Capacity - Solar capacity has become China’s largest single power source, but the industry remains plagued by overcapacity, price wars and falling new installations
The power of China's solar power plants has exceeded the capacity of coal generation, and the country's overproduction and demand for new capacity have led the PRC to "green" faster than ever before.
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