China clean energy capacity surpasses fossil fuels for first time

08:50

By: Dakir Madiha

China clean energy capacity surpasses fossil fuels for first time

China’s installed clean energy capacity has exceeded fossil fuels for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the country’s energy transition. New data from Global Energy Monitor show that as of February 2026, 52 percent of China’s operating power capacity comes from non fossil sources, while 48 percent is generated by coal, natural gas and other fossil fuels.

The development places the world’s largest carbon emitter alongside countries such as Brazil, France and Germany, where clean energy accounts for the majority of electricity capacity. The shift reflects rapid expansion in solar and wind power, even as China continues to build coal plants at record levels, underscoring tensions between its climate goals and energy security priorities.

China’s total installed power capacity reached 3,890 gigawatts in 2025. According to the National Energy Administration, solar capacity rose 35 percent to 1,200 gigawatts, while wind capacity increased 23 percent to 640 gigawatts. Newly installed solar and wind capacity exceeded 430 million kilowatts in 2025, a 22 percent year on year increase that set a new record.

Cumulative grid connected wind and solar capacity reached 1.84 billion kilowatts, accounting for 47.3 percent of total installed power capacity and surpassing thermal power for the first time. The China Electricity Council projects that solar capacity alone could overtake coal in 2026, with non fossil sources potentially making up 63 percent of the energy mix by the end of the year.

Despite the surge in renewables, coal remains deeply embedded in China’s power system. A joint report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air and Global Energy Monitor found that new and revived coal power projects reached a record 161 gigawatts in 2025. Around 78 gigawatts of new coal capacity were brought online last year, the highest annual addition in a decade.

The researchers noted that although coal’s share in electricity generation has fallen to historic lows, new coal capacity approvals remain elevated, reflecting what they described as structural and institutional reliance on coal within China’s power sector.

Energy security concerns continue to shape policy decisions in Beijing. After experiencing power shortages and blackouts in 2021 and 2022, authorities have maintained that coal provides essential backup during periods of low hydropower output or sudden spikes in demand.

As of January 2026, China had 1,243 gigawatts of operational coal power capacity, with an additional 291 gigawatts under development. Many of the new plants are designed to serve as flexible or supportive units rather than constant baseload generators, operating mainly during peak demand periods.

An analysis by Forbes noted that much of the new coal infrastructure appears driven by local priorities centered on grid reliability rather than by immediate necessity for additional coal generation. The coexistence of record renewable growth and sustained coal expansion highlights the complexity of China’s transition as it seeks to balance decarbonization objectives with economic stability and energy security.