China's Solar Power Capacity Surpasses Coal for the First Time in History

China's National Energy Administration announced September 1, 2026 that cumulative installed photovoltaic capacity reached 1.286 TW (704 GW utility-scale + 582 GW distributed) at the end of July 2026, edging past the country's 1.285 TW of coal-fired capacity for the first time -- ending a century-long stretch in which coal was China's largest power source by installed capacity. Solar now accounts for roughly 31.5% of China's total installed generating capacity. China Electricity Council deputy director Liu Zhiqiang called it 'a milestone event in China's green and low-carbon energy transition,' while cautioning that coal will remain important for grid stability, since coal plants run at roughly 50% capacity factor versus about 14% for solar.