Overview
- China’s National Energy Administration reported that solar capacity reached 1,286 gigawatts at the end of July, equal to about 31.5% of the country’s installed power capacity and higher than coal capacity.
- Official first-half 2026 data show coal’s share of electricity generation fell below 50% for the first time on record while renewables provided roughly 41.2% of output.
- Solar generation rose sharply year on year, with 802.4 billion kilowatt-hours produced in the first seven months of 2026, up about 15.5%, and the country added roughly 86 GW of solar capacity in the first seven months.
- Policy changes in early 2026 that removed guaranteed revenue for new wind and solar projects have slowed the pace of additions, and grid integration limits have driven higher curtailment of renewable output.
- China still dominates the global solar supply chain and plans large investment in the sector over coming years, a dynamic that will shape domestic deployment, grid upgrades, and international markets.