China Hits Renewable Milestone, But Coal Isn’t Going Anywhere

Core Insights - China has achieved a significant milestone by having more operating power capacity from clean energy sources than from fossil fuels, with 52% of its capacity now derived from non-fossil fuel sources as of February 2026 [1] - The country remains the largest global investor in clean energy, having installed more solar and wind power capacity than the rest of the world combined [2] - Despite the growth in clean energy, China continues to heavily rely on coal, which accounts for 71% of total global coal power capacity under development [4] Clean Energy Capacity - China's clean energy capacity, including nuclear and hydropower, is reaching record levels to meet rising electricity demand, supported by a robust supply chain for solar panels and batteries [3] - As of January 2026, China had 1,243 GW of operating coal power capacity, with 501 GW of coal power capacity under development [8] Coal Dependency - Concerns regarding energy security lead China to continue constructing coal-fired power plants, with developers rushing to install capacity before stricter emissions regulations come into effect [5] - Coal remains a critical component of China's energy strategy to prevent blackouts and industry shutdowns during peak demand and periods of low hydropower generation [7] Capacity Under Construction - China has 674 GW of non-fossil power capacity and 237 GW of fossil fuel capacity under construction, with 234 GW of utility-scale solar capacity alone surpassing the combined total of the rest of the world [5][6]