BEIJING: China’s installed solar power capacity has surpassed coal-fired power for the first time, marking a major milestone in the country’s rapidly expanding renewable energy sector, official data showed Tuesday.
As of the end of July, China’s installed solar power capacity reached 1.286 billion kilowatts, according to the National Energy Administration (NEA).
“For the first time, photovoltaic installed capacity surpassed coal-fired power, becoming the largest power source category in China,” the NEA said.
Coal-fired power capacity stood slightly lower at 1.285 billion kilowatts.
China Solar Capacity Reaches Historic Milestone
The NEA said solar capacity and electricity generation have maintained rapid growth, with photovoltaic power playing an increasingly important role in ensuring electricity supplies and accelerating the country’s energy transition.
China, the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter, has pledged to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
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Coal has dominated the country’s electricity system for decades and remains a major contributor to its carbon emissions.
However, China’s coal-fired electricity generation declined by nearly two percent in 2025 despite rising overall power demand.
The decline was the first in six years, with analysts highlighting it as a significant development in China’s changing energy landscape.
China Accelerates Renewable Energy Expansion
China has dramatically expanded renewable energy installations in recent years as coal’s share of its energy mix gradually declines.
The country installed a record 315 gigawatts of solar capacity and 119 gigawatts of wind capacity last year, according to the China Electricity Council.
Together, solar and wind accounted for more than 80 percent of newly installed power-generation capacity, underlining the scale of China’s renewable energy expansion.
