China saw a notable rise in new coal power capacity in the first half of 2025, even while reaching record amounts of clean energy installations. The nation introduced 21 gigawatts of coal power in the initial six months of this year, marking the highest total for the first half since 2016, as per a collaborative report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air and Global Energy Monitor.
China initiated or resumed construction on coal projects amounting to 46 gigawatts, while introducing an additional 75 gigawatts of proposed new and revived coal power initiatives.
This coal expansion jeopardizes China’s objective to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and may entrench coal's position in its energy sector for years ahead.
The increase happened concurrently with China adding 212 gigawatts of solar power capacity in the first half of the year, establishing a new record that surpasses the total solar power capacity of the U.S. by late 2024.
“China's coal power expansion continues unabated, maintaining emissions at elevated levels and locking coal into the system for many years ahead,” stated Christine Shearer, research analyst at GEM and co-author of the report.
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Additional coal projects may be initiated shortly due to a “substantial backlog of projects already permitted” from the approval increases in 2022 and 2023 when China’s power grid faced challenges in adjusting to rising renewables.
“Since then, improved grid management and storage have mitigated those problems, while the coal power projects authorized at that time are still being built,” stated Lauri Myllyvirta, leading analyst at CREA.
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The newest coal expansion occurs even though China's swiftly growing renewable energy production now meets the country's increased electricity demand.
China is set to deploy sufficient clean energy from solar, wind, nuclear, and hydro by 2025 to satisfy the total electricity needs of both Germany and Britain together.