Historic: China Shatters All Renewable Energy Records, Coal Use Drops for First Time

In what climate experts are calling a "watershed moment," China added more renewable energy in 2025 than any nation has built in its entire history — while simultaneously reducing coal consumption for the first time in decades outside of pandemic disruptions. The shift could mark the beginning of the end for global carbon emissions growth.

📊 Numbers That Rewrite History

China's National Energy Administration confirmed in late January 2026 that the country added:

• 315 gigawatts (GW) of solar power — three times what any country except the U.S. has ever built
• 119 GW of wind power — four times all the hydropower Norway has ever developed
• 434 GW total renewable capacity in a single year

To put these numbers in perspective:

• China installed two wind turbines every hour throughout the entire year (64,000 total)
• Solar panels covering 20 football fields were installed every hour (788 million panels total)
• The added capacity equals 60 times Sri Lanka's entire electricity grid
• Enough power generation to run Germany eight times over

🎯 The Breakthrough That Matters Most

For the first time in modern history outside of COVID-19 lockdowns, China's coal consumption fell (by 1.6%) while its economy continued growing (electricity demand up 5%).

This happened because clean energy growth exceeded the growth in electricity demand. Wind and solar alone added 366 terawatt-hours of generation capacity — enough to power the additional demand and start displacing coal.

"This is a watershed moment. China is responsible for roughly 90% of the global growth in greenhouse gases since the Paris agreement in 2015. When China peaks, it's likely the world will at least plateau." — Lauri Myllyvirta, Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air

🌍 Why This Changes Everything for the Planet

China and India together have driven more than 90% of the increase in global CO2 emissions from all sources between 2015 and 2024. The fact that coal power generation fell simultaneously in both countries in 2025 marks the first time this has happened since 1973.

If maintained, this shift could mark the beginning of a global plateau — and eventual decline — in greenhouse gas emissions.

🏗️ How China Made the Impossible Possible

Massive Investment

• $625 billion invested in clean energy in 2024 (31% of global total)
• $80+ billion in power grid infrastructure in 2024 alone
• Four new ultra-high-voltage transmission lines operational by end of 2025
• Cross-provincial transmission capacity reached 370 GW

Energy Storage Revolution

Operational storage capacity reached 136 million kilowatts by end of 2025 — a more than 40-fold increase since 2020. This storage capacity is crucial for managing the variability of solar and wind power.

Grid Reform

China advanced electricity market reforms that enable cross-regional trading and better integrate renewable resources into the grid, ensuring stable power supply even with high renewable penetration.

💨 The Scale is Hard to Imagine

China is now home to the world's largest wind farm — the Gansu Wind Farm in western China — which is visible from space and features:

• More than 7,000 turbines
• 20 GW total capacity
• Nearly 13 times larger than the largest U.S. wind farm (in California)

By 2025, China's total wind capacity reached 640 GW, accounting for nearly 40% of global wind power capacity.

🎖️ Non-Fossil Fuels Hit 60%

For the first time in history, non-fossil fuel sources now account for more than 60% of China's total installed power capacity. Wind and solar alone represent 47.3% of the country's total capacity.

This is a stunning reversal for a nation that built its economic miracle on coal.

💰 The Global Ripple Effect

China's aggressive deployment has driven down costs worldwide through scale and manufacturing innovation:

• Solar panel costs have fallen 90% since 2010, largely due to China's manufacturing scale
• Made renewable energy affordable for developing nations
• In 2024 alone, China installed more than 260 GW of new renewables — more than the rest of the world combined
• The International Energy Agency projects China will account for 60% of all new renewable capacity added worldwide by 2030

🚧 Challenges Remain

Despite these achievements, China remains the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases. Its energy-intensive industrial economy continues to rely heavily on fossil fuels for certain applications.

Climate Action Tracker rates China's overall climate policies as "Highly insufficient" to limit global warming to 1.5°C, highlighting the need for continued ambition.

President Xi announced a new greenhouse gas emission target for 2035 in September 2025, committing to reduce emissions by 7% to 10% below an undefined "peak level."

🎓 Lessons for the World

China's experience offers valuable blueprints for other nations:

1. Scale drives cost reduction: Massive deployment creates economies of scale that benefit everyone
2. Coordinated development works: Generation, transmission, storage, and demand-side management must advance together
3. Long-term planning matters: Five-year plans and consistent policy signals provide stability for investors
4. Strategic manufacturing support: Domestic supply chains accelerate deployment

🔮 What Happens Next

China is on track to achieve its target of 1,200 GW of combined solar and wind capacity as early as 2025 — five years ahead of schedule.

If the country maintains this trajectory while continuing to reduce coal consumption, it could:

• Peak carbon emissions years ahead of schedule
• Trigger a global plateau in greenhouse gas emissions
• Prove that rapid decarbonization is compatible with economic growth
• Inspire other major emitters to accelerate their transitions

💡 The Bottom Line

For years, climate advocates have been told that the scale and speed of energy transition required to avoid catastrophic warming was unrealistic. China's 2025 deployment proves otherwise.

When political will, strategic planning, and massive investment combine, clean energy deployment at unprecedented scale is not just possible — it's happening right now.

The data is clear: The clean energy future isn't coming. It's here.

As world leaders gather for COP30 in Brazil, China's achievements serve as both inspiration and a call to action. With global carbon emissions potentially nearing a plateau, the world has a narrow window to accelerate the energy transition. The question is no longer whether it's possible — China has proven it is. The question is whether other nations will rise to the challenge.