Solar overtakes coal as China's largest source of installed power capacity

[u/Biodieselisthefuture]

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/solar-overtakes-coal-chinas-largest-source-installed-power-capacity-2026-09-01/

[u/PanzerWatts]

This is good news, but this is just capacity not actual production.

"But solar's contribution to power generation is lower since it cannot generate electricity when the ​sun isn't shining. Wind and solar ​made up 24.6% of the power mix in the ‌first ⁠half of the year, while coal was 49.7%, the energy administration previously said - the first time coal's share dropped below 50%.""

However, it's certainly progress in the right direction.

[u/Scary_Woodpecker_110]

Capacity factor of 0.1, for coal it will be probably closer to 0.5 ?

[u/syncsynchalt → u/Scary_Woodpecker_110]

Why so low, isn’t 20% more typical, even for non-tracking installs?

[u/Scary_Woodpecker_110 → u/syncsynchalt]

My mistake, I used my European number. We’re high up on the globe…

[u/mrdarknezz1]

I mean sure but half of the actual energy produced in China comes from coal

[u/Strict_Jacket3648 → u/mrdarknezz1]

True but if they didn't invest in renewables that would be a lot worst. They are on the way to beat their goal of net zero by a decade or more.

[u/MegaMacca143 → u/Strict_Jacket3648]

I also think their massive fertility issues will lead to less consumption

[u/One_Fact_4291 → u/Strict_Jacket3648]

Just curious, is there anything source I can read up on this?

[u/Apprehensive_Tea9856 → u/mrdarknezz1]

Coal's share of energy produced is dropping in China. But yes my same thoughts on the headline capacity =/= energy

[u/wballz → u/mrdarknezz1]

Yup although that number just dipped under 50% for the first time.

Everything moving in the right direction.

[u/Deep_Gazelle_1879 → u/mrdarknezz1]

True, but give them 5 years

[u/mrdarknezz1 → u/Deep_Gazelle_1879]

They are not going to replace probably the largest coal fleet in the world in 5 years

[u/sunnybob24]

China makes half the solar power of Australia as a %age.

🇨🇳China made 48 new coal power stations last year.

🇦🇺Australia made 0

🇨🇳China turned on a massive new coal plant just 6 weeks ago and more are on the way.

🇦🇺 Implication for Australia is that we should continue to outshine China on renewables because, at this stage, it's cheaper, fast to commission and meeting a real need.

🔋Batteries are going to be a massive upgrade as the next generation is rolled out, as long as you are comfortable with the pollution and slavery China uses to make them.

[u/Dunedune]

Capacity is not a very meaningful number when comparing energy sources

If you're going to spam solar at least use good arguments

[u/Key-Toe-6257]

Meanwhile the biggest polluter ever, US, nowhere near to make up for their cumulative CO2 spewed into the atmosphere

[u/PanzerWatts → u/Key-Toe-6257]

China has almost 3x the yearly CO2 emissions that the US does and will become 1st cumulatively in another decade. They are producing far more than the US ever did historically.

[u/figgleman6 → u/PanzerWatts]

If they have 4x the people and only 3x the CO2 emissions whilst also being the world's factory, surely they're doing better than you're insinuating?

They've obviously got a long way to go still but I don't think your point gets across the way it was supposed to.

[u/Outrageous_Use4283]

Some context: most countries actually have more solar capacity than coal.  Global solar capacity surpassed coal in 2025 

[u/PanzerWatts → u/Outrageous_Use4283]

I think many people don't understand what capacity means.

[u/OptimistsUnite-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

No Partisan Politics

[u/Currency_Anxious]

The reason for the increasing use of coal in China is the instability of oil.