China shifts from coal to clean energy
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Ember, a global energy think tank, reports that coal use for power generation decreased in 17 of China’s 26 provinces and regions.
Thermal generation, primarily from coal, fell by 0.7% in 2025 despite a 5% increase in overall electricity demand. This marks the first decrease in coal generation since 2015, a period when electricity demand grew at a slower rate of 0.5%.
The analysis indicates that eight of 11 major industrial sectors in China have already reached peak fossil fuel consumption. This decline in coal use is noteworthy because it’s happening while China's electricity needs continue to rise sharply, demonstrating the rapid growth of clean electricity sources. Ember’s findings suggest a turning point in China’s energy landscape, as clean power is now expanding quickly enough to satisfy increasing demand and simultaneously displace coal.
The last time coal generation fell was in 2015, but demand was almost flat then, making the current situation distinct.
