China is constructing an expansive array of coal power stations
In the first half of 2025, China's energy sector, the largest CO2 emitter, managed to reduce its emissions by 3%. However, this progress was overshadowed by the continued expansion of coal in the country, which experts predict will add more than 80 gigawatts to its coal power capacity by the end of the year.
Analysts at the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) have expressed concerns about this expansion, stating that it is wasting investments and that the continued development of coal power shows no signs of slowing down. They suspect that project proponents are taking advantage of the window until 2030, as China aims to reach the peak of its CO2 emissions by then.
Despite this, China's government claims that these new coal power plants will only be used flexibly when renewable energy production is insufficient. However, CREA criticizes that China rarely uses its coal power plants in a flexible manner.
On the other hand, China continues to invest in green energy. Analysts expect an addition of more than 500 gigawatts in wind and solar energy in 2025. In the first half of the year, the expansion of green energy reduced CO2 emissions by 1% compared to the same period last year.
Notably, China brought online plants with a total capacity of 21 gigawatts in the first half of 2025 - a record for the first half of a year since 2016. However, no specific companies or institutions were named as having filed applications for a total of 75 gigawatts of new or revived coal power plants during this period.
Beijing approved new coal projects with a total capacity of 25 gigawatts in the first half of the year. It remains to be seen what energy and climate goals Beijing will set in the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan for 2026 to 2030.
Meanwhile, Germany added around 20 gigawatts of solar, wind, and biomass energy in 2024, bringing the total installed capacity to 190 gigawatts. China, as a crucial player in the global fight against climate change, will need to balance its energy demands, which are predicted to double within five years, with its commitment to reducing CO2 emissions.
The international community agreed on phasing out coal in favor of the climate during the climate conference in Glasgow. It remains to be seen how China will navigate this challenge in the coming years.
