China's installed solar power generation capacity has, for the first time, exceeded the capacity of coal-fired power plants. Consequently, solar energy has become the largest capacity source in the country's power system.

According to data from China's National Energy Administration, by the end of July, the total installed capacity of photovoltaic power plants in the country reached 1.286 billion kilowatts. This figure accounts for 31.5 percent of the country's total energy capacity.

In the first seven months of 2026, solar power plants in China generated over 802.4 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. This is a 15.5 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

Currently, China accounts for approximately 80 percent of the world's production of solar photovoltaic panels. The development of next-generation technologies in the sector is also creating conditions for the rapid expansion of solar energy capabilities.

Over the next five years, China's investments in solar energy are expected to exceed 2 trillion yuan. This aims to increase clean energy production, strengthen energy security, and raise the share of environmentally friendly sources in economic growth.

This shift in China's energy system has become one of the key indicators demonstrating the accelerating pace of the global transition to renewable energy sources.