Coal-fired power generation accounted for less than half of China's total electricity production during the first six months of 2026, marking a historical turning point in the nation's ongoing energy transition, according to official data released Thursday by the National Energy Administration.
Between January and June, coal-fired power generated 2.5 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity, representing 49.7 percent of China's total power output. This marks the first time coal's share of the national electricity mix has fallen below the 50 percent threshold during a major reporting period. Energy officials and industry analysts highlighted the shift as a significant milestone in Beijing's efforts to decarbonize its industrial sector and transition toward a low-carbon grid.
Addressing a press conference in Beijing, National Energy Administration official Xing Yiteng stated that the new figures reflect structured, phased progress in scaling up non-fossil fuel alternatives to replace traditional fossil fuel generation. According to figures reported by Xinhua News Agency, China's total combined installed capacity for wind and solar power reached 1.95 billion kilowatts by the end of June, registering a 16.8 percent year-on-year increase.
During the same six-month period, electricity generated from renewable energy sources rose by approximately 9 percent compared to the previous year, reaching nearly 2 trillion kilowatt-hours. Renewable generation accounted for 41.2 percent of China's total electricity output, a volume that exceeded the combined electrical power consumption of the country's entire tertiary service sector alongside all urban and rural households.
The rapid growth in green energy infrastructure aligns with China's broader national climate targets. The central government has previously committed to peaking its total carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. Although coal remains a critical component of grid reliability and peak-load support, the latest figures show that heavy public and private investments in solar arrays, offshore wind farms, hydroelectric projects, and nuclear facilities are steadily altering the fundamentals of the world's largest power market.
