China has experienced a significant surge in new coal power in the first half of the year, despite adding record levels of clean energy capacity. According to a report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air and Global Energy Monitor, the country brought 21 gigawatts of coal power online, the highest first-half total since 2016. This growth is concerning, as coal accounts for around half of China’s power generation, down from three-quarters in 2016.
The report highlights that China also began or restarted construction on coal projects totaling 46 gigawatts and launched another 75 gigawatts-worth of proposed new and revived coal power projects. This expansion threatens China’s goal to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and risks solidifying coal’s role in its power sector. China is the world’s second-largest economy and the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases that drive climate change, but it is also a renewable energy powerhouse.
Despite the country’s rapidly expanding renewable power generation, which now covers its electricity demand growth, coal power development shows no signs of easing. China installed 212 gigawatts of solar capacity in the first half of the year, a new record, and is on track to install enough clean power to meet the entire electricity demand of Germany and Britain combined. However, only 1 gigawatt of coal power was retired in the first half of 2025, leaving the country well short of its target to retire 30 gigawatts between 2020 and the end of this year.
The continued investment in coal power is attributed to “powerful coal interests” that continue to push for projects, despite the country’s pledge to “strictly control” coal power projects and coal consumption growth. This risks new coal projects crowding out the space renewables need to grow. China is likely to announce new emissions and energy goals in the coming months, including its 2035 greenhouse gas reduction commitments, which will be crucial in determining the country’s energy trajectory.
The report’s findings underscore the challenges China faces in transitioning to a low-carbon economy, despite its significant progress in renewable energy. As the country prepares to release its 15th Five-Year Plan for 2026 to 2030, it remains to be seen how it will balance its energy needs with its climate goals. The upcoming announcements will be closely watched, as they will have significant implications for China’s energy sector and its contribution to global efforts to mitigate climate change.
