For the first time in a century, coal is not China's biggest power source

In July 2026, China's installed solar capacity reached 1,288 gigawatts — edging past coal's 1,285 GW and ending more than a hundred years of coal as the country's largest power source. Coal still generates more actual electricity for now, but its share of generation also slipped below 50% for the first time. The structure of the world's largest power system is visibly turning.