Environment & Climate
China's installed solar capacity surpasses coal for the first time
Installed solar generation capacity reached 1,288 gigawatts, though coal still delivers a larger share of total electricity output.
The short version
- China reported 1,288 GW of installed solar capacity, slightly overtaking its 1,285 GW of coal capacity.
- Solar now represents 31.5% of the country's total power capacity, making it the largest single energy category by capacity.
- Actual electricity generation remains higher for coal due to higher utilization rates, though coal dropped below half of total generation in the first half of 2026.
- The ongoing challenge remains managing grid constraints and renewable curtailment as power demand and electric vehicle adoption continue to grow.
Key facts
- Chinese state media reported that the nation's installed solar capacity reached 1,288 GW, edging out coal capacity of 1,285 GW.[Electrek]
- Solar capacity now accounts for 31.5% of total generation capacity in China, ranking it as the largest source by installed potential.[Electrek]
- In the first half of 2026, coal accounted for 49.7% of electricity generation, falling below half of national output for the first time, while wind and solar combined generated 24.6%.[Electrek]
- China continues to produce more absolute power from coal than solar because coal plants operate at higher utilization factors compared to solar installations.[Electrek]
- The rate of new solar installations slowed in 2026 after authorities removed guaranteed feed-in tariffs, requiring generators to compete directly in the power market.[Electrek]
What remains uncertain
- The extent to which renewable curtailment and long-term coal supply contracts will continue to keep fossil fuel plants running during periods of high clean energy output remains unclear.[Electrek]