Beijing – Coal-fired power plants generated 49.7% of all electricity output over the first six months of 2026, marking the first time this figure has dipped below 50%.
Greenpeace East Asia’s Beijing-based project lead Gao Yuhe said:
“This another step in coal’s decline in China, and there’s still a way to go. Solar and wind play a central role in outcompeting and displacing coal. But solar and wind generation is still only at 25%. Stronger targets for solar and wind generation will have a knock on effect to further undercut coal. China’s current 2030 target for wind and solar is 30%, but we can easily hit 33% by 2028. Without stronger targets, coal will linger in the interim. Rooftop solar and energy storage are the key sectors to watch over the next few years. In high energy demand provinces on the eastern seaboard, rooftop solar and battery deployment offer local solutions to meet peak electricity demand.”
ENDS
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August Rick, Greenpeace East Asia, Beijing, ([email protected])
Greenpeace International Press Desk, [email protected], +31 20 718 2470 (24 hours)
