China's Solar Power Capacity Surpasses Coal for First Time
The Story
China's installed solar power capacity has surpassed that of coal-fired power for the first time, the National Energy Administration (NEA) announced Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
Solar generation rose 15.5% year-on-year in the first seven months of 2026 to 802.4 billion kilowatt-hours. Coal has been China's primary power source for decades, but coal-fired power generation fell by nearly 2% in 2025, the first decline in six years, even as power demand rose. India's coal-fired electricity output growth also slowed in August, while renewable power generation surged by over 42%, including solar and wind.
India's total electricity generation rose 11.6% year-on-year to 180 billion kilowatt-hours in August, driven by high demand from a heatwave. Coal-fired generation in India rose 11.3% year-on-year to 116.28 billion kWh.
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- Center-LeftHong Kong Free PressHong Kong Free Press (opens the publisher’s site)
- CenterBloombergBloomberg (opens the publisher’s site)
- CenterHürriyet Daily NewsHürriyet Daily News (opens the publisher’s site)
- CenterXinhua (English)Xinhua (English) (opens the publisher’s site)
- CenterBusiness RecorderBusiness Recorder (opens the publisher’s site)
- Far RightCGTN (China Global Television Network)CGTN (China Global Television Network) (opens the publisher’s site)
- Far RightGlobal Times (China)Global Times (China) (opens the publisher’s site)