China reduces coal’s share below 50% as renewables top 40%

China’s electricity mix fell below the 50% coal threshold for the first time, with coal accounting for 49.7% of generation in the first half of the year. Renewable sources rose to 41.2%, driven by wind and solar which together supplied 24.6% of power. The surge in wind‑solar capacity reached a record 1.84 billion kW, representing 47.3% of the nation’s total installed capacity.

The shift occurs as China sharply cut hydrocarbon imports from the Persian Gulf, dropping from about 12 million barrels per day in February to under 7 million barrels per day in June, amid regional conflict. Officials cite expanding electric‑vehicle adoption, new AI data centres and robust export growth as supporting factors. Beijing maintains a 2030 target to cap coal consumption and aims for 30% of the mix from wind and solar by that year, with some analysts expecting the goal could be met by 2028.