Japanese Media: China's Solar Power Capacity Exceeds Coal Power for the First Time
According to a September 11 article by Japanese media outlet *Toyo Keizai*, solar power in China is gradually becoming a primary source of electricity. Despite drawbacks such as operational efficiency affected by weather conditions, solar power capacity has now surpassed that of coal-fired power—the previous largest source of electricity generation.
Historically, China’s power sector has often been portrayed as a major contributor to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions—but this image is rapidly changing.
As of July 2026, China’s installed solar power capacity (at full load operation) reached 1.286 billion kilowatts, accounting for 31.5% of the country’s total installed capacity. At the same time, coal-fired power capacity stood at 1.285 billion kilowatts. For the first time, solar power capacity exceeded coal power capacity, making it China’s largest source of electricity.
During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025), China’s solar power capacity grew rapidly. Over five years, approximately 947 million kilowatts of new generating capacity were added, representing a nearly 3.7-fold increase compared to the 253 million kilowatts installed by the end of 2020.
It should be noted that solar power has not yet surpassed coal in actual electricity generation output. Due to its intermittent nature caused by fluctuating weather conditions, solar power operates for significantly shorter periods than coal-fired power plants.
In the first half of 2026, coal power generation reached 2.5 trillion kilowatt-hours, accounting for 49.7% of total electricity generation—marking the first time it fell below 50%, though still far exceeding solar output. From January to July 2026, solar power generation reached 802.4 billion kilowatt-hours, contributing 13% to total electricity consumption.
Declining photovoltaic panel prices have driven the construction of new power facilities, and panel manufacturers are actively promoting large-scale solar system installations. However, if electricity prices continue to drop, the installation of solar power equipment may be adversely affected.
Looking at the fiscal year from January to June 2026, newly installed solar power capacity in China dropped sharply to 72.07 million kilowatts—a 66% year-on-year decline. The China Photovoltaic Industry Association (a consortium of solar industry operators) forecasts that total new installations for 2026 will range between 180 million and 240 million kilowatts, a decrease of 24% to 43% compared to the same period last year—marking the first annual decline since 2019.
Nevertheless, decarbonization has become a national goal in China, and in the medium to long term, the country’s energy transition is expected to accelerate further.
During the 15th Five-Year Plan period and beyond, the global shift toward low-carbon and zero-carbon energy is accelerating. China is striving to meet its carbon peak targets on schedule, with renewable energy increasingly playing a crucial role as a key pillar supporting the comprehensive green transformation of the economy and society.
This is especially true amid rising geopolitical tensions among the United States, Israel, and Iran, where these conflicts are destabilizing global oil and natural gas supply networks, heightening uncertainty over energy security—and further elevating the strategic importance of renewable energy.
China has set a target to increase its renewable energy generation capacity to about 350 million kilowatts by 2030, producing approximately 6 trillion kilowatt-hours annually. Among this, wind and solar power capacity will exceed 2.8 billion kilowatts, accounting for more than 50% of the nation’s total installed capacity.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1876002119781380/
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