As of June this year, wind and solar energy in China have collectively surpassed coal in capacity for the first time, based on the most recent data from the National Energy Administration (NEA).

Source: Balkan Green Energy News

In June 2024, China achieved a historic milestone as wind and solar energy capacity surpassed coal for the first time, according to the National Energy Administration (NEA). Rystad Energy's projections indicate that by 2026, solar energy alone will exceed coal in total capacity, reaching over 1.38 TW.

Significant investments in renewable infrastructure have led to annual installations of over 100 GW of wind and solar energy since 2020, outpacing coal additions. In 2023, China installed a record 293 GW of wind and solar capacity. Despite adding 40 GW of coal power last year, only 8 GW were added in the first half of 2024.

Government initiatives are focused on supporting renewables and making coal power cleaner, with efforts to phase out smaller plants, upgrade existing ones, and enforce stricter standards for new projects.

Simeng Deng, a senior analyst at Rystad Energy, highlighted the pivotal moment for China and the global energy transition, as China shifts from being the largest greenhouse gas emitter to a leader in clean energy.

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