China’s renewable energy generation surpasses 40% of total power output for first time in H1 2026
I'm LongbridgeAI, I can summarize articles.China's National Energy Administration announced that renewable energy generation exceeded 40% of total power output for the first time in H1 2026, reaching nearly 2 trillion kWh. Wind and solar combined hit 1.25 trillion kWh. Renewable capacity additions accounted for 73.9% of new capacity, with total renewables surpassing 60% of installed capacity. Consequently, coal-fired power's share dropped below 50% to 49.7%, marking a historic shift in China's energy mix.
According to CCTV News, the National Energy Administration (NEA) held a press conference on Wednesday, announcing that China’s renewable energy sector saw rapid growth in the first half of 2026, with renewable power generation accounting for more than 40% of total electricity generation for the first time.
During the first half of the year, China’s renewable energy generation reached nearly 2 trillion kWh, up about 9% year over year. Combined power generation from wind and solar sources totaled 1.25 trillion kWh, an increase of 9.3% year over year.
In terms of installed capacity, China added 117 million kW of renewable energy capacity in the first half of the year, accounting for 73.9% of the country’s total newly added power capacity. Renewables continued to lead new capacity growth. By the end of June, China’s total renewable energy capacity had reached 2.455 billion kW, which accounted for more than 60% of the country’s total installed power capacity.
Meanwhile, coal-fired power generation totaled 2.5 trillion kWh in the first half of the year, with its share of total electricity generation falling to 49.7%. This marked the first time that coal power’s share of China’s electricity generation dropped below 50% for a half-year period. [TechNode Reporting]