China says solar power capacity surpasses coal for first time

China's national energy agency announced on Tuesday that the country's solar power capacity has now outpaced coal-fired power generation for the first time. The National Energy Administration (NEA) reported that as of the end of July, China's installed solar power capacity reached 1.286 billion kilowatts, surpassing the 1.285 billion kilowatts of coal-fired power capacity. This marks a significant shift in China's energy landscape, as solar power becomes the largest power source category in the nation.

China, the world's leading emitter of greenhouse gases contributing to climate change, had set ambitious environmental goals. The country pledged to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. The NEA highlighted that China's installed solar and power generation capacity have experienced a consistent surge, playing an increasingly crucial role in ensuring electricity supply and driving the energy transition.

Coal has been the primary power generation source in China for decades, and it remains a major driver of the nation's carbon emissions. However, China's coal-fired power generation experienced a decrease of nearly 2% in 2025, despite rising global energy demand. This marked the first decline in six years and represents the first instance on record where coal generation declined simultaneously with rising power demand. Analysts suggested that this decline could signal a shift in China's energy sector.

In recent years, China has witnessed an unprecedented expansion in its renewable installations. The country installed a record 315 gigawatts of solar power and 119 gigawatts of wind power capacity in 2025, accounting for over 80% of the total newly installed power generation capacity. This explosive growth in renewable energy installations has led to a gradual reduction in coal's share in China's energy mix.