China generates less than half of its electricity from coal for the first time
Renewables reached 41.2% of electricity output as grid and storage investment rose 14% and 74%, officials said.
- On Thursday, July 30, 2026, the National Energy Administration reported that coal-fired power fell to 49.7% of electricity output during the first half of the year, while renewable energy sources reached 41.2%.
- Wind and solar power alone generated 24.6% of the mix, a milestone Xing Yiteng, deputy director-general of the administration's Department of Development and Planning, called a 'phased achievement' in China's energy transition.
- Investment in energy storage climbed 74% as Beijing ramped up grid infrastructure spending, which rose 14% in the first half; however, grid bottlenecks increasingly force renewable projects to curtail output.
- While coal's share fell, absolute consumption continues rising as power demand climbs; China's reliance remains higher than the 17% seen in the United States but lower than India's 69%.
- Gao Yuhe, Greenpeace East Asia project manager, suggests that while planners aim for 30% wind and solar capacity by 2030, this goal could be achieved by 2028 through rooftop solar and battery deployment.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Beijing continues to produce electricity even with coal, but renewables fly
The share of coal power in China's total electricity production, the world's largest consumer, has fallen below half for the first time. This is due to the rapid expansion of renewable energy generation, led by wind and solar power. However, as electricity demand rises due to the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and the construction of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, there is a possibility that coal consumption this year will incre…
China's coal-fired power generation dips below 50% for first time
Coal-fired power accounted for less than 50 percent of China’s total electricity generation in the first half of the year for the first time on record, signaling an accelerating transition toward green and low-carbon energy, official data showed on Thursday.
China generates less than half of its electricity from coal for the ...
China's coal-fired power output share falls below 50% for first time in H1
Coal-fired power accounted for 49.7% of China's total electricity output in the first half of 2026, marking the first time its share has fallen below 50% and a new milestone in the country's transition toward a green and low-carbon energy system, official data showed on Thursday.
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