China's 2024 Coal Plant Construction Reaches Decade High, Threatening Climate Goals

The surge in coal power projects undermines China's rapid renewable energy expansion and jeopardizes its carbon reduction commitments.

China began construction on 94.5 gigawatts of new coal power capacity in 2024, the highest level since 2015, accounting for 93% of global coal power construction starts.
Despite adding a record 356 gigawatts of wind and solar capacity in 2024, coal remains entrenched in China's energy mix, limiting the full integration of renewables into the grid.
Experts warn that the continued expansion of coal power risks delaying China's ability to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
Structural energy policies, including long-term coal purchase agreements, are prioritizing coal over renewables, contributing to underutilization of clean energy sources.
The report calls for urgent policy reforms, including setting caps on coal power, accelerating renewable integration, and phasing out older coal plants to align with China's climate goals.