China Tops 4.01 Billion kW in Power Capacity as Clean Energy Reaches 62%
Updated
Updated · China Daily · Jun 26
China Tops 4.01 Billion kW in Power Capacity as Clean Energy Reaches 62%
3 articles · Updated · China Daily · Jun 26
Summary
4.01 billion kilowatts of installed power capacity put China above the combined total of the US, EU, India, Japan and Russia, the National Energy Administration said.
About two years were enough to add the latest 1 billion kW, down from eight years for the first billion, as solar and wind drove most of the expansion.
74% of new capacity added since 2010 came from nonfossil sources, lifting their share to 62% by end-May while coal's share fell to 32% from 61%.
More than 90% lower solar module prices over the past decade, wind costs at or below coal, and China's dominance in solar and wind equipment have made renewables broadly profitable.
That 4-billion-kW base is helping China meet rising demand from AI and advanced manufacturing while also expanding cross-border power trade, especially into Southeast Asia.
China has built massive energy storage. Can it now solve its growing 'wasted' green power problem?
Why are China’s carbon emissions rising despite its record-breaking expansion of renewable energy?
How is the Hormuz crisis accelerating China's strategic pivot from imported oil to domestic electrification?
China’s Green Energy Surge: Renewables Reach 61% of Power Capacity in 2026, Reshaping the Global Energy Landscape
Overview
By May 2026, China’s energy landscape had transformed dramatically, with clean energy sources driving a rapid expansion in power generation capacity. Non-fossil fuels soared to 62% of total installed capacity, while renewables reached 61%, marking a major shift from previous years. This growth was fueled by a sharp decline in coal-fired power, which dropped to 32%, fundamentally reshaping the nation’s energy mix. Since 2010, non-fossil sources made up 74% of all new capacity, with solar and wind leading the way. These changes highlight China’s strategic move towards a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.