Beyond coal: China’s installed solar power capacity crosses historic threshold
Solar power has overtaken coal as China’s largest source of installed power generation capacity for the first time, marking a landmark shift in the world’s largest energy market, according to government data. By the end of July, China’s installed photovoltaic capacity had reached 1,286 gigawatts, accounting for 31.5 per cent of the total, the National Energy Administration (NEA) reported on…
China's installed solar power capacity has recently reached a historic threshold, surpassing coal as the country's largest source of installed power generation capacity. According to government data, solar power accounted for 31.5% of China's total installed capacity by the end of July, with the National Energy Administration (NEA) calling this a "signature achievement" in the nation's green and low-carbon energy transition.
The shift comes as coal's share of generated electricity dropped below 50% for the first time during the first half of 2026, with solar generation accounting for 13% of total electricity consumption by the end of July.
Brief written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
