China's Solar and Wind Capacity Surpasses Coal for First Time

For the first time in history, China's combined solar and wind power capacity has surpassed coal, marking a turning point in the global fight against climate change.

China's solar capacity soared 35% to reach 1,200 gigawatts in 2025, while wind power jumped 23% to 640 gigawatts, according to the National Energy Administration. Together, these renewable sources now outrank the country's thermal capacity, which sits just over 1,500 gigawatts and is mostly coal.

The numbers tell an even bigger story about where China's economy is heading. Clean energy industries drove more than 90% of investment growth and over half of GDP growth last year, according to new analysis for Carbon Brief.

China didn't stop at just building more renewables. The country also added 213 gigawatts of grid-related energy storage capacity in 2025, helping solve one of renewable energy's biggest challenges: storing power when the sun isn't shining and the wind isn't blowing.

The momentum shows no signs of slowing down. Solar power capacity alone could overtake coal in 2026, according to projections from the China Electricity Council, with non-fossil sources potentially accounting for 63% of the power mix while coal drops to 31%.

Wind power is expected to see massive growth too, with annual additions projected between 600 and 980 gigawatts over the next five years. That means China could be adding 120 gigawatts of new wind capacity every year through 2028.

State media outlet Xinhua emphasized that becoming a low-carbon energy "powerhouse" will strengthen the country's industrial innovation and improve its global standing. The outlet noted that coal consumption is expected to peak around 2027, with oil consumption having already reached its high point.

The Ripple Effect

China's renewable energy boom matters far beyond its borders. As the world's largest energy consumer and carbon emitter, China's energy choices shape global climate outcomes and influence clean energy costs worldwide.

When China scales up production of solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries, manufacturing costs drop for everyone. The country's massive investments are helping make renewable energy the cheapest power source in more and more places around the world.

This milestone also proves that even the largest coal-dependent economies can transform their energy systems faster than many experts predicted just a few years ago.

The shift is already creating new economic opportunities, with clean energy industries becoming major drivers of growth and employment in the world's second-largest economy.

As solar and wind eclipse coal in China, the future of energy is looking brighter everywhere.