Chinese wind and solar power plants have surpassed coal power plants in terms of generation

Although coal is still the main source of energy in China, the country is actively developing renewable energy. In the first half of the year, wind and solar power accounted for 38.4% of total electricity generation, while the share of coal power plants fell to 38.1%, paving the way for a greener future.

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According to the Chinese publication SCMP, citing a report from the Electricity Trade Association (CEC), China is expected to connect about 300 GW of solar and wind power plants to the grid this year, slightly exceeding the previous year’s figure of 293 GW. This will increase the total capacity of renewable energy sources to 1,350 GW by the end of the year, accounting for more than 40% of the total capacity of 3,300 GW of all energy sources used in China.

Continued growth in the installation of solar and wind power plants will also lead to the total capacity of energy sources, including nuclear and hydropower, reaching 1,900 GW by the end of 2024, representing 57.5% of the country’s total energy mix, compared to 53.9% in 2023. At the same time, China, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases and consumer of electricity, intends to achieve carbon neutrality by bringing CO2 emissions to zero by 2060 and obtaining 80% of its total energy mix from renewable energy sources.

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According to CEC, at the end of the first half of the year, the country’s total wind and solar power capacity stood at 1,180 GW, accounting for 38.4% of the total capacity of 3,070 GW. Meanwhile, coal-fired power capacity fell to 1,170 GW by the end of June, or 38.1% of total installed capacity, and is forecast to fall below 37% by the end of the year.

President Xi Jinping said in 2021 that the country would “strictly control coal consumption” until 2025 and gradually reduce its consumption from 2026. However, for now, China’s infrastructure still needs to be upgraded to improve the flexibility of energy transmission and storage.