China's Coal Power Share Drops Below 50% for First Time in First Half of Year

Coal-fired electricity generation accounted for 49.7% of China's total power output in the first half of the year, falling below the 50% mark for a six-month period for the first time, according to data from the National Energy Administration reported by Xinhua. During the same period, renewable energy generation expanded to 41.2% of total output, generating nearly 2 trillion kilowatt-hours and covering almost 40% of total national electricity demand.

The drop in coal power's share below 50% and renewables' rise past 40% demonstrate a structural shift in China's energy supply. As the world's largest electricity producer and carbon emitter, China's accelerating integration of clean power signals that its green transition is moving from incremental capacity additions to reshaping the core generation mix.

China’s coal-fired power generation accounted for less than half of the national total during the first six months of the year, marking a structural milestone in the country’s ongoing energy transition, according to data released by the National Energy Administration (NEA) at a press conference reported by state news agency Xinhua. In the first half of the year, coal-fired electricity generation reached 2.5 trillion kilowatt-hours, representing 49.7% of total national output. This is the first time that coal power’s share of electricity generation has dropped below 50% over a six-month period, reflecting a gradual reallocation within the power supply architecture of the world’s largest energy consumer. Concurrently, power generated from renewable energy sources crossed the 40% threshold for a half-year period for the first time. Total renewable power output reached nearly 2 trillion kilowatt-hours during the same six-month window, accounting for 41.2% of China’s overall electricity generation. According to the NEA, this level of renewable production was sufficient to satisfy nearly 40% of total national electricity demand during the period. The figures underscore a major shift in China's electricity matrix as large-scale wind and solar capacity installations alter the supply composition. As non-fossil energy sources expand their role in meeting baseline power requirements, thermal generation—particularly coal-fired plants—is increasingly expected to transition from primary base-load suppliers toward supporting and flexible peak-shaving resources. Maintaining power grid stability and ensuring efficient energy consumption remain critical operational requirements as the share of intermittent renewables continues to rise. Grid operators face growing demands for energy storage integration, cross-regional dispatch capability, and peak-load management, especially during periods of extreme weather or seasonal power consumption spikes.