Solar power has surpassed coal as the largest source of installed electricity capacity in China, marking a major milestone in the rapid expansion of renewable energy in the country.
Solar capacity in China reached 1,286 gigawatts (GW) by the end of July 2026, accounting for 31.5% of the country’s total installed power generation capacity, according to data from the China National Energy Administration.
The figure puts solar power ahead of coal-fired power capacity, which stood at around 1,275 GW at the end of June. Solar capacity had been just below coal a month earlier, at 1,274 GW.
This development comes as China continues to expand renewable energy as part of efforts to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. Earlier this year, coal’s share of China’s total electricity generation fell below 50% for the first time on record.
Official data showed that coal accounted for 49.7% of electricity generation during the first half of 2026, while renewable energy sources produced 41.2% of the country’s electricity. Wind and solar combined accounted for almost a quarter of total power generation.
However, the rise of solar energy does not mean China is abandoning coal. Coal-fired power remains important in supplying electricity to the country’s large industrial sector and helping to maintain the reliability of the national grid.
The expansion of renewable energy in China has also faced challenges, including grid limitations and an increase in the amount of solar and wind electricity that cannot be used due to limited grid capacity.
Despite these difficulties, the growth in solar capacity highlights the scale of China’s renewable energy investment. The country has rapidly expanded solar and wind installations in recent years, helping to increase the contribution of non-fossil energy to its electricity system.
(Oil price. Com)
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