In a recent monthly video conference on renewable energy development (July), the National Energy Administration (NEA) reported that China's new energy and renewable energy sectors maintained a stable overall trajectory during the first half of 2026.

As of end of June 2026, the nation's total renewable energy installed capacity reached 24.55 billion kilowatts, accounting for 60.7% of the country's total power generation capacity. Specifically, wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) installations (approximately 19.5 billion kilowatts) made up nearly half of the total, with solar PV capacity roughly on par with coal-fired power generation capacity.

During the January-June 2026 period, the newly added renewable energy capacity stood at 1.17 billion kilowatts, representing 73.9% of all new power installations. The electricity generated from renewable sources totaled 1.96 trillion kilowatt-hours, accounting for 41.2% of the national total. Wind and solar generation together reached 1.25 trillion kilowatt-hours, representing 24.6% of the overall electricity consumption in society. The role of renewable energy in ensuring supply and facilitating the energy transition has become increasingly significant.

The meeting stressed that China's new energy and renewable energy development has fully entered a new phase of high-quality growth. To address the evolving situation and requirements, three key areas must be diligently managed to achieve a strong start for the "15th Five-Year Plan" period.

Key Area 1: Ensure Implementation of Plans and Policies

All relevant entities must fully advance the implementation of the "15th Five-Year Plan" for building a new energy system, the renewable energy development plan, and various already-introduced policies, such as green certificate issuance and trading, new energy market participation, zero-carbon industrial parks, and direct green electricity connections. Provincial energy authorities should align their local plans and policies with national strategies, break down development goals, refine implementation steps, and oversee the construction of major projects.

Key Area 2: Expand Green Electricity Consumption and Enhance Renewable Energy Integration

Provincial energy authorities must fully implement the "Renewable Energy Consumption Minimum Proportion Target and Renewable Energy Electricity Consumption Responsibility Weight System Implementation Measures." They should collaborate with other departments like industry, information technology, housing, construction, and transportation to formulate consumption implementation plans. These plans should organize key energy-consuming industries within the region to meet their consumption targets, strengthen monitoring and assessment, promote policy awareness, and ensure that all parties fulfill their green consumption responsibilities. A careful calculation of basic, economic, and strategic factors is required, balancing reasonable project returns with system operation costs to scientifically set new energy utilization rate targets. The approach should prioritize large-grid integration while also promoting local direct green electricity connections, source-grid-load-storage integration, and non-electricity and non-grid consumption methods to boost renewable energy integration levels.

Key Area 3: Accelerate Project Development and Construction

All entities must expedite the construction of large-scale wind and solar base projects. Simultaneously, they should comprehensively promote the development of offshore wind, onshore centralized wind and solar PV, solar thermal, and distributed new energy projects. This includes accelerating preliminary work to ensure early commencement and generate tangible results.

The meeting was attended by officials from relevant departments of the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration, energy authorities from all provinces, autonomous regions, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, dispatched offices of the National Energy Administration, key grid enterprises and power generation companies, as well as representatives from leading research institutes and industry associations.