China's solar capacity surpasses coal-fired power
China's installed solar power capacity reached 1.286 billion kilowatts by the end of July, overtaking coal-fired power capacity at 1.285 billion kilowatts, the National Energy Administration said. Solar generation rose 15.5 percent in the first seven months of 2026 to 802.4 billion kilowatt-hours, about one-eighth of national generation. The country added record capacity in 2025, installing 315 gigawatts of solar and 119 gigawatts of wind, while coal-fired generation fell nearly 2 percent in 2025, underlining renewables' growing role in electricity supply and implications for China's emissions trajectory.
China's installed solar capacity reached 1.286 billion kilowatts.
Context
China built large amounts of solar and wind capacity in recent years. This pushed installed solar capacity above coal capacity. Coal generation fell in 2025 while solar output rose in early 2026, so coal's share may continue to shrink.
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