Built for backup, contracted to run: China’s coal support system risks crowding out clean power
(energyandcleanair.org)
- New coal power plants entering operation in China reached the highest first-half year level since 2016, with 10 GW entering operation for every 1 GW retired, despite a policy shift towards tighter control of new project approvals. China commissioned 30 GW of new coal power, up 43% from last year, while retiring only 2.7 GW. Another 25.4 GW started construction.
- Coal power generation rebounded 3.4% year-on-year in H1 2026, reversing the 2025 decline. The rapid expansion of coal power capacity led to worsening oversupply, reflected both in the increase of wasted wind and solar generation and in falling utilisation of coal power plants.
- Estimated wind and solar curtailment, including both reported and unreported curtailment, reached 360 TWh in H1 2026, up 49% year-on-year. Had this electricity been absorbed, the additional power supply could have met all demand growth and allowed coal power generation to fall.
- Long-term contracts continue to reserve a substantial share of limited electricity demand for coal power—coal generators in 2026 are still expected to sign annual contracts covering 60-70% of the previous year’s delivered electricity, turning a risk-management instrument into a barrier to renewable integration.
- CREA advises phasing out coal power-specific minimum requirements for medium- and long-term contracts in provinces experiencing renewable curtailment or oversupply to help coal transition from a baseload generator towards a flexible backup role.
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