China’s installed capacity of wind and solar power has reached 570 GW and 1,080 GW respectively, accounting for 45.7% of the nation’s total—surpassing coal-fired power for the first time, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The announcement was made at the Commission’s June 26 press briefing.
Original By NLS
China’s installed capacity of wind and solar power has reached 570 GW and 1,080 GW respectively, accounting for 45.7% of the nation’s total—surpassing coal-fired power for the first time, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The announcement was made at the Commission’s June 26 press briefing.
As renewables continue to dominate new power capacity additions, integrating them efficiently into the grid has become a key challenge in building a modern, low-carbon energy system. To address this, the NDRC has introduced a series of coordinated measures focused on three critical areas: transmission and consumption, grid capacity and system flexibility, and supply-demand alignment.
One major initiative is the development of large-scale wind and solar bases in China’s desert, Gobi, and arid regions. These projects leverage abundant natural resources and enable long-distance clean energy delivery from the northwest to other parts of the country. At the same time, efforts are being made to boost local consumption by linking renewable generation directly with nearby industrial users.
China is also expanding its ultra-high-voltage (UHV) transmission network—now the world’s largest. Forty-three UHV lines are currently in operation, with additional corridors, such as the Ningxia–Hunan link, scheduled to come online this year. On the system flexibility front, new energy storage capacity has exceeded 80 GW. As renewable energy becomes more market-driven, the role of storage in balancing supply and demand and participating in spot markets is expected to grow significantly.
On the demand side, China is tapping into its large pool of flexible loads. Through the deployment of virtual power plants and demand response programs, these resources are increasingly supporting renewable integration. Meanwhile, the rapid rollout of EV charging infrastructure—now surpassing 14 million units—is helping shift electricity usage to off-peak hours and easing grid pressure.
“Thanks to joint efforts across sectors, China has made steady progress in integrating renewables,” said Li Chao, Deputy Director of the NDRC General Office and Commission spokesperson. “The nationwide utilization rate for renewable power has remained above 90%.”