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Global and Chinese solar energy expansion

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2026-10-17 06:02 UTC → 2026-10-26 23:44 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Global electricity production trends show solar energy surpassing nuclear power for the first time in 2025. According to the World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2026, solar production reached 2,783 terawatt-hours, while nuclear production grew by only 1.1 percent to 2,703 terawatt-hours. This shift resulted in the global share of nuclear energy falling to 8.8 percent, its lowest level in approximately 45 years. In China, the transition toward renewable energy has accelerated significantly. By the end of August 2026, China’s solar energy capacity reached 1,297 GW, overtaking coal to become the nation’s largest installed power source. Renewable energy sources accounted for 60.8% of China’s total installed power capacity, with solar and wind combined meeting 23.8% of the nation’s total electricity consumption during the first eight months of 2026. By the end of September 2026, China’s combined wind and solar capacity reached 2,010 GW, with solar at 1,310 GW and wind at 700 GW. Between January and September 2026, these sources generated approximately 1,933 billion kWh, accounting for 64% of the total increase in social electricity consumption. While this progress puts China ahead of its 2030 target of 2,800 GW, experts emphasize that expanding ultra-high voltage transmission and energy storage is essential to manage the intermittent nature of these renewables.

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