Breaking the Perception! China's PV Installation Will Surpass Coal Power for the First Time in 2026, 63% Non-Fossil Energy Redefining the Energy Landscape
On February 3, Bloomberg reported: "In 2026, China's PV installation will surpass coal power for the first time, and the combined wind and solar installation will account for half of the total installation. The non-fossil energy installation will reach 63%. In 2025, China's total electricity consumption broke through 10 trillion kilowatt-hours for the first time, while since early 2024, China's electricity consumption increased, but carbon emissions showed a downward trend. Media comments that this has broken traditional climate economics perception. China is exploring a new path of growth and emission reduction as a developing economy. However, there are still contradictions in the transition of coal power peak regulation."
China's PV installation is about to surpass coal power, which is a milestone in energy transition and also a subversion of the traditional development model. While Europe and the United States are still plagued by power outages, China has achieved the "decoupling" of electricity use and carbon emissions with a power system twice as large as that of the U.S. and globally low electricity prices. The figure of over 100 gigawatts of new wind and solar installation added in 2024, exceeding the global total, proves the scale effect of clean power. Unlike the old path of developed countries, which develop first and then reduce emissions, China has restructured its energy structure during industrialization. The electrification substitution has made emission reduction an irreversible trend. The retention of coal power peak regulation is a rational buffer for the transition, not stagnation. This transformation not only provides a new model for global carbon neutrality but also shows developing countries a feasible path for green growth!
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1856098812445696/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.