China says solar power capacity surpasses coal for first time

According to the National Energy Administration (NEA) of China, the country's installed solar energy capacity has now surpassed that of coal-fired power generation for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the nation's energy transition. The NEA announced on Tuesday that as of the end of July 2026, China's installed solar power capacity reached 1.286 billion kilowatts, surpassing coal-fired power, which stood at 1.285 billion kilowatts.

Solar generation increased by 15.5 percent year-on-year in the first seven months of 2026, accounting for about one-eighth of the country's total electricity generation. The NEA highlighted that solar power has been playing an increasingly prominent role in ensuring electricity supply and driving the energy transition in China. Despite coal being the key power generation source for decades and a major contributor to China's greenhouse gas emissions, coal-fired power generation fell by nearly two percent in 2025, marking the first decline in six years despite rising energy demand.

This shift in the energy mix underscores China's efforts to meet its pledge to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.