Coal-fired power accounted for less than 50 percent of China's total electricity generation in the first half of 2026, marking the first time on record that coal's share has dipped below that threshold. The milestone signals an accelerating transition toward green and low-carbon energy, according to official data released on Thursday.

The figures, published by China's National Energy Administration, show that coal power generated 2.5 trillion kilowatt-hours (kWh) during the January–June period. That output brought coal's proportion of total national generation down to 49.7 percent. Because China is the world's largest electricity producer and total power demand continues to grow each year, absolute coal generation can remain near record levels even as coal's percentage share of the mix declines.

China has long been the world's largest consumer of coal and the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases. The country has set national goals to reach peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. The latest data suggests that a structural shift in the power mix is underway, with renewables steadily eroding coal's historically dominant position. Nevertheless, China has continued to approve and build new coal-fired plants in parallel with its renewable build-out, reflecting a policy emphasis on energy security and grid reliability during periods of low wind, solar, or hydropower output.

The nation's expansion of renewable energy continued at a rapid pace over the first six months of the year. By the end of June, the combined installed capacity of wind and solar power reached 1.95 billion kilowatts, representing a 16.8 percent increase compared with the same period a year earlier.

In terms of actual electricity output, combined wind and solar generation topped 1.2 trillion kWh during the first half of the year, accounting for roughly one-quarter of China's total electricity consumption, the National Energy Administration said.

Source: China Daily