Wind and solar lead China's energy transformation, surpassing coal
By Zheng Xin | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2026-01-28 13:16
China's grid-connected wind and solar capacity reached 1.84 billion kilowatts (kW) in 2025, surpassing coal power for the first time in history, according to data from the National Energy Administration (NEA).
The data shows that wind and solar energy now make up 47.3 percent of the nation's total power mix, exceeding thermal power by 300 million kW.
Solar power led the surge with a 35.4 percent year-on-year increase, reaching 1.2 billion kW, while wind power grew by 22.9 percent to reach 640 million kW, it said.
Overall, China's total power generation capacity rose to 3.89 billion kW, a 16.1 percent jump from the previous year.
Annual renewable additions have accelerated sharply, rising from 120 million kW in 2022 to a record 430 million kW in 2025. This steady climb highlights China's rapid transformation of its energy grid to meet long-term carbon targets, it said.
