Why is China commissioning so many coal power plants?
09 Feb 2026

Despite a massive increase in solar and wind power generation, China has commissioned more coal power plants than ever before.

In 2025 alone, over 50 large coal units (individual boiler and turbine sets with generating capacity of 1GW or more) were commissioned.

This is a significant increase from the less than 20 such units added annually over the last decade.

Massive expansion in coal power generation
Capacity surge

China has added a whopping 78GW of new coal power capacity in 2025, a sharp increase from previous years.

The data comes from a joint report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CRECA) and Global Energy Monitor.

"The scale of the buildout is staggering," said Christine Shearer, co-author of the report.

More coal power capacity than India added in a decade
Comparison

In 2025 alone, China added more coal power capacity than India has in the last decade.

This massive expansion comes even as wind and solar power generation continues to grow at an even faster rate.

In 2025, China added 315GW of solar capacity and 119GW of wind energy, according to data from the National Energy Administration.

Explaining the reasons behind China's coal obsession
Energy demands

China's early development stage compared to the US or Europe means it needs more energy to sustain its growth.

The country's 1.4 billion people are increasingly entering the middle class, leading to higher electricity consumption for appliances like air conditioners and washing machines.

Power shortages in parts of China in 2021 and 2022 fueled concerns over energy security, thus prompting a surge in applications and permits for new coal plants.

Coal seen as reliable backup for wind, solar
Policy stance

The Chinese government sees coal as a reliable backup for wind and solar, which are weather-dependent.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said last year that coal should "play an important underpinning and balancing role" for years to come.

An industry group also recently said that coal-fired power will remain crucial for stability, even as other energy sources take over.

Experts warn of consequences
Environmental impact

The rapid expansion of coal-fired capacity could slow down the transition to cleaner energy sources, according to experts.

Qi Qin, an analyst at CRECA, warned that political and financial pressure will keep these plants running, leaving less room for alternative power sources.

The report calls on China to speed up the retirement of old and inefficient coal plants and ensure power-sector emissions don't rise from 2025-2030 in its next five-year plan.