Solar power capacity surpasses coal in China and natural gas in California

Major economies are seeing significant shifts in energy production as solar power reaches historic milestones. In California, utility-scale solar generation surpassed natural gas for the first time during the first five months of 2026. Solar generation in the region increased by 21% compared to the same period in 2024, while electricity from natural gas plants dropped by 60%. This transition has been supported by a 79% surge in battery storage capacity, which helps maintain grid reliability by supplying power during non-sunny hours.

Similarly, China has reached a landmark where its installed solar power capacity has overtaken coal to become the nation’s largest single power source. As of late July, China’s solar capacity reached 1.286 billion kilowatts, narrowly exceeding its 1.285 billion kW of coal-fired capacity. This shift is transforming the role of coal from a primary baseload provider to a flexible, auxiliary source that ramps up during periods of low solar output. China’s solar capacity now exceeds the total installed photovoltaic capacity of the European Union and is higher than that of the United States and India.