Solar panels overtake coal as China’s biggest source of power capacity
Solar installations reached 1,286 gigawatts by the end of July, or 31.5% of the country’s total. This article ( Solar panels overtake coal as China’s biggest source of power capacity ) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News .
China has seen solar power become its leading source of electricity capacity, surpassing coal, according to Bloomberg. As of July's end, solar installations accounted for 31.5% of the nation's total generation capacity, reaching 1,286 gigawatts. This figure represents a one-gigawatt increase from the previous month, June. The National Energy Administration's data, reported by China Central Television, underscores the rapid growth in solar power.
Solar energy generation experienced a 15.5% increase year-on-year in the first seven months of the year, generating 802.4 billion kilowatt-hours. Experts predict that investment in the sector will surpass two trillion yuan over the next five years. Despite China's continued significance in the global solar supply chain, new solar installations have slowed due to recent changes in the revenue policy for wind and solar projects.
This slowdown came after China added 93 gigawatts of solar capacity in May 2025 alone, a stark contrast to the 86 gigawatts added in the first seven months of 2026.
Written by urgent.news from The Independent Singapore's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
