China’s Solar Output is Surging but Coal is Still King

Coal currently accounts for almost two-thirds of China’s power generation.
Kemp: In July 2024, Solar and hydro reached record output in China.
Coal, it seems, will remain king in China’s energy mix for the observable future.

China recently recorded record electricity consumption that was largely met by equally record production of hydropower and solar. Yet coal remained the country’s dominant source of electricity. Giving that up would be one tough job.

Coal currently accounts for almost two-thirds of China’s power generation. Yet in what many would see as good news, in July, the share of coal in the country’s electricity mix declined—only slightly, but it declined. Solar and hydro, on the other hand, reached record output, Reuters’ John Kemp reported, as he pointed out many parts of the country saw higher than recent average temperatures.

By Irina Slav – Aug 21, 2024 oilprice.com