China says solar power capacity surpasses coal for first time

China has reported that its installed solar energy capacity has surpassed that of coal-fired power for the first time, according to the national energy body. The milestone was announced on Tuesday, with solar photovoltaic panels installed on the Hongqiao Passenger Rail Terminal in Shanghai in 2010 cited as an example. The National Energy Administration (NEA) stated that as of the end of July, China's installed solar power capacity reached 1.286 billion kilowatts, surpassing the 1.285 billion kilowatt capacity of coal-fired power.

The coal-fired power installed capacity remained at the same level. Solar generation rose 15.5 percent year-on-year in the first seven months of 2026, accounting for about one-eighth of the country's total generation. The NEA emphasized that the trend of rapid growth in solar power capacity and generation is expected to play an increasingly prominent role in ensuring electricity supply and driving the energy transition.

Coal has been China's primary power generation source for decades and a major contributor to its greenhouse gas emissions. However, China's coal-fired power generation declined by nearly two percent in 2025, despite rising energy demand, marking the first decrease in six years. This decline occurred alongside a rise in power demand, with some analysts considering it the first-ever instance of coal generation falling while power demand increased.

In recent years, China has witnessed a surge in renewable installations, with coal's share in its energy mix gradually decreasing. According to the China Electricity Council, China installed a record 315 gigawatts of solar power and 119 gigawatts of wind power capacity last year, representing over 80 percent of the total newly installed power generation capacity.