Overview
- China commissioned 78 gigawatts of new coal power in 2025, a sharp increase highlighted by a joint report from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air and Global Energy Monitor.
- Construction began on 83 gigawatts of coal capacity last year, and the report indicates more units are likely to come online in the near term.
- By the end of 2025, 291 gigawatts of coal capacity were permitted or under construction, with proposals and reactivations reaching a record 161 gigawatts during the year.
- China added a record 434 gigawatts of wind and solar in 2025, pushing renewables to more than 60% of installed capacity as cleaner sources covered all demand growth and coal-fired generation fell about 1%.
- Analysts warn low coal-plant utilisation near 47% and inflexible dispatch rules risk locking in pollution and costs, even as the NDRC maintains coal should provide an underpinning and balancing role.