Solar eclipses coal as China’s top power source

China's solar power capacity has surpassed coal for the first time, becoming the country's leading power source. As of July, solar capacity reached 1.286 billion kilowatts, narrowly exceeding coal's 1.285 billion kilowatts, according to the National Energy Administration. This milestone solidifies China's status as the world's largest market for photovoltaic energy, surpassing the United States, India, and Germany.

Liu Zhiqiang, deputy director of the China Electricity Council's planning and development department, emphasized this achievement as a pivotal moment in the nation's journey towards carbon reduction goals. The transition to a renewable-dominated power system will significantly lower carbon emissions, bolster the domestic photovoltaic supply chain, and cement China's global leadership in solar manufacturing and technology.

Coal-fired power is undergoing a structural shift, transitioning from a primary baseload provider to a flexible, auxiliary power source. While coal plants' output will decrease during peak solar generation, they will ramp up during cloudy periods to maintain grid stability. However, experts warn that capacity alone does not guarantee output, as solar's intermittent nature means coal will continue to play a vital role in grid reliability.

To fully harness renewable capacity, China should expand flexible grid resources, enhance smart grid platforms, and refine electricity market mechanisms. This capacity milestone advances China's dual-carbon goals of peaking emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, reducing carbon intensity in the power sector and supporting the electrification of industries and transportation.