Solar surpasses coal as China’s top source of power capacity
Solar capacity hit 1,286 gigawatts at the end of July, 31.5 per cent of China’s total installed power generation capacity.
Beijing - Solar power has overtaken coal as China's leading source of power capacity, marking a significant milestone in the nation's green energy transition. According to China Central Television, solar capacity reached 1,286 gigawatts by the end of July, accounting for 31.5% of the country's total installed power generation capacity. This comes from data cited by the National Energy Administration, which noted that solar capacity was only 1 gigawatt short of coal's capacity at the end of June.
The China Electricity Council had previously reported that solar capacity was just 1GW behind coal as of June. Despite remaining the dominant player in the global solar supply chain, China is expected to invest over two trillion yuan (S$378.4 billion) in the sector over the next five years, according to the report. Solar generation surged by 15.5% year-on-year to 802.4 billion kilowatt-hours in the first seven months of 2026, representing about one-eighth of the country's total power generation.
This solar milestone is occurring amid a slowdown in China's record renewable installation pace this year. A policy overhaul that ended guaranteed revenue for wind and solar projects has slowed the pace of installations. The country added 86 gigawatts of solar power in the first seven months of 2026, compared to the 93 gigawatts added in May 2025, the final month before the policy changes took effect.
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