China's dual push for renewables and coal
The Chinese government has released a new initiative aimed at reinforcing its renewable energy efforts, with a specific focus on raising wind and solar power capacity by 53 percent by 2030. This strategy falls under the 15th Five-Year Plan, which was jointly published by the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration. It seeks to elevate overall renewable energy production to 1.8 billion tons of coal equivalent by 2030, rising from 1.18 billion tons of coal equivalent in 2025.
China continues to be the top producer and user of coal worldwide. In 2025, it made up 78 percent of new coal power capacity globally, even as it expanded wind and solar by 360 gigawatts that year. As of 2024, the country reached 1.4 terawatts of combined wind and solar power installed. This accounts for roughly one-third of the 4.5 terawatts of renewable energy installed across the globe.
New projects and technologies in renewables
To facilitate the fast growth of renewable energy, China is adopting cutting-edge technologies including battery storage, virtual power plants, and electric vehicles. These innovations are expected to help balance the variability of wind and solar, providing a more reliable and efficient energy grid. The government also intends to construct ten major renewable energy bases by 2030. Eleven transmission lines are planned to deliver power from these bases, including 40 gigawatts of coal-generated electricity.
China is investigating non-electricity sector applications for wind and solar power, targeting 150 million tons of coal equivalent for uses like heating and cooling and green hydrogen production. The nation wants to produce 2 million metric tons of green hydrogen by 2030. Moreover, China aims to raise its hydropower capacity to 570 gigawatts by 2030, with 160 gigawatts designated for pumped storage to better manage energy supply and demand.
Emissions and coal's continued role
By the end of 2024, China had added 1.4 terawatts of wind and solar power, but coal power is still a major focus. In early 2026, coal output rose, possibly reversing the progress from 2025 when emissions had been reduced. Power-sector emissions increased during the first four months of 2026, showing that the 2025 reduction might have been short-lived.
Qi Qin, a CREA analyst, remarked, “The situation is concerning. China has added vast amounts of solar and wind capacity, but the question is whether that capacity is being used fully.” To handle the inconsistency of renewables, the country might need to depend more on energy storage. China also continues to back coal expansion to maintain a steady power supply.
Coal remains central to China's energy structure. The country accounts for 86 percent of the coal capacity currently being built globally and added 78 percent of new coal power capacity worldwide in 2025. This strong reliance on coal continues to pose a major obstacle in meeting long-term clean energy goals.
China is also pursuing innovative projects like deep-sea offshore wind farms and integrating them with underwater data centres to boost operational efficiency. It is exploring fully renewable energy bases that produce electricity exclusively from renewable sources. These initiatives supply 20 percent of the power moving through the nation’s ultra-high voltage transmission system, which channels energy from the north and northwest to major cities and industrial areas in the east.
The country has approximately 664 gigawatts of solar power planned or under construction, making up one-third of the global total. Additionally, China has nearly 700 gigawatts of potential wind energy projects, representing about a quarter of the global total. These plans emphasize China's dedication to rapidly scaling its renewable energy systems.
China's expansion of renewable energy is unmatched, surpassing even its earlier ambitious goals. The updated targets show the government's intent to boost wind and solar deployment even more. While pushing for green energy, the country still supports coal to guarantee a stable power supply for its fast-developing economy.
As part of its energy policy, China aims to foster global collaboration on renewable energy. The government wants to assist the world in transitioning to green power and persuade other countries to use its green energy technologies, standards, and certification processes. While growing its domestic renewable energy capacity, China is also working to enhance its global position in combating climate change.