China says wind and solar energy capacity exceeds thermal for first time

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🗞️ Driving the news: For the first time, China's installed wind and solar energy capacity has surpassed that of coal-powered thermal generation, according to the national energy authority
• As of the first quarter of 2025, wind and solar capacity reached 1.482 billion kilowatts, overtaking thermal's 1.451 billion kilowatts
• This milestone highlights China's accelerating transition toward renewable energy amidst its commitments to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060

🔭 The context: China remains the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter, with coal still supplying around 60% of its energy needs
• Nevertheless, it leads the world in renewable energy expansion, installing nearly twice the wind and solar capacity of the rest of the world combined last year
• China achieved its 2030 target of 1,200 GW of wind and solar capacity almost six years ahead of schedule, reflecting a significant structural shift in its energy sector

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: China’s energy transition is critical to global climate goals given its sheer scale of emissions
• Surpassing coal in installed renewable capacity signals potential progress toward reducing sector-wide carbon emissions
• However, continued coal expansion poses risks to achieving peaking emissions by 2030, underlining the complexity of balancing renewable growth with energy security needs

⏭️ What's next: China plans to announce updated greenhouse gas reduction targets, including all gases, before COP30 in November 2025
• Stakeholders are expected to closely monitor China's integration of storage technologies and grid upgrades to ensure renewables can reliably replace coal’s role in the energy system

💬 One quote: "This trend is very likely to continue in the following months and quarters in 2025," — Yao Zhe, Global Policy adviser at Greenpeace East Asia, highlighting a structural shift in China's energy sector

📈 One stat: China added 357 gigawatts of new wind and solar capacity in 2024 — 10 times the amount added by the United States

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