China’s Coal Power Share Falls Below 50%

China's coal-fired generation supplied 49.7% of electricity in the first half of 2026, the first reported period in which coal accounted for less than half of the national power mix. Renewables supplied 41.2%, including roughly one-quarter from wind and solar, reflecting continued capacity growth. Coal remains central to reliability and industrial demand, and rising electricity consumption could increase total coal use even as its share declines.