Why China Is Building So Many Coal Plants Despite Its Solar and Wind Boom

China is leading the world in renewable energy deployment, installing record levels of solar panels and wind turbines each year. Yet at the same time, it is also approving and constructing new coal-fired power plants at a pace unmatched by any other country. This apparent contradiction has puzzled climate experts and policymakers alike. How can the world’s largest producer of clean energy also remain its biggest builder of coal plants?

The answer lies in a complex mix of energy security concerns, economic growth priorities, grid limitations, and political realities.

A Renewable Energy Giant With Fossil Fuel Roots

China now accounts for more than half of global new solar and wind installations. Massive solar farms in desert regions and sprawling wind projects along its coasts demonstrate Beijing’s ambition to transition toward cleaner energy. The country has also invested heavily in battery storage and electric vehicle infrastructure.

However, coal still provides roughly 60 percent of China’s electricity. The nation’s industrial economy — driven by steel, cement, manufacturing, and data centers — requires constant, stable power. Unlike solar and wind, which depend on weather conditions, coal plants can generate electricity around the clock.

Chinese officials argue that renewables alone cannot yet guarantee grid reliability, especially during peak demand periods such as heatwaves or cold winters. Coal plants serve as a backup to prevent blackouts that could disrupt factories and daily life.

Energy Security After Power Shortages

China’s renewed push for coal construction accelerated after widespread power shortages in 2021 and 2022, when coal supply disruptions and surging electricity demand caused outages across several provinces. Factories were forced to shut down, and households experienced rolling blackouts.

Those events deeply alarmed policymakers. Energy security became a top national priority, alongside economic stability. Building more coal plants was seen as a fast and dependable solution to prevent similar crises in the future.

Unlike imported oil or gas, coal is largely mined domestically, reducing China’s dependence on foreign energy suppliers. In times of geopolitical tension, this self-sufficiency is viewed as strategically vital.

Grid Bottlenecks and Storage Challenges

Another major issue is infrastructure. Much of China’s solar and wind power is generated in remote western regions, far from major cities and industrial hubs in the east. Transmission lines are improving but still lag behind renewable expansion.

Moreover, large-scale energy storage technology is not yet sufficient to smooth out fluctuations in renewable output. When the sun sets or the wind drops, coal plants can quickly ramp up production to meet demand.

Until grid flexibility and storage capacity improve, coal remains a reliable stabilizer in China’s energy system.

Economic and Political Incentives

Local governments also play a key role in coal plant approvals. New power stations create jobs, boost local GDP figures, and attract industrial investment. In economically struggling provinces, coal projects are often viewed as engines of growth.

State-owned energy companies benefit as well. Coal plants provide steady revenue streams and help justify large capital investments. For officials whose performance is measured partly on economic output and employment, coal remains politically attractive.

This creates a contradiction between national climate goals and local development priorities. While Beijing sets ambitious carbon targets, provincial leaders often focus on immediate economic gains.

Climate Commitments Versus Reality

China has pledged to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. It also presents itself as a global leader in clean energy and climate diplomacy.

Critics argue that building new coal plants undermines these commitments. Even if coal plants operate at lower capacity in the future, their long lifespans lock in emissions for decades.

Chinese officials counter that many of the new plants are designed to replace older, more polluting facilities and will be used mainly as backup power rather than primary energy sources. They insist coal capacity does not necessarily mean coal consumption will rise at the same rate.

Still, environmental groups warn that expanding coal infrastructure risks slowing the transition to renewables and sends mixed signals to the world.

Industrial Demand Keeps Rising

China’s electricity demand continues to grow rapidly, driven by urbanization, electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, and heavy industry. Data centers and semiconductor factories alone require enormous amounts of reliable power.

Renewables are growing fast, but so is consumption. Coal fills the gap between what renewable energy can currently supply and what the economy requires.

Until demand growth slows or storage technology improves dramatically, coal remains a crucial part of the energy mix.

A Transitional Strategy or Long-Term Dependence?

Some analysts view China’s coal expansion as a temporary insurance policy during the renewable transition. They argue that once grid technology and storage improve, coal plants will be used less frequently and eventually phased out.

Others fear the opposite: that continued coal investment creates financial and political incentives to keep using coal longer than necessary.

The truth likely lies somewhere in between. China is attempting to balance three competing goals: economic growth, energy security, and climate responsibility. Achieving all three at once is proving extremely difficult.

Conclusion

China’s construction of new coal plants alongside a booming renewable sector reflects the tensions at the heart of its energy strategy. Solar and wind power symbolize the future, but coal represents stability in the present.

While China is undeniably leading the world in renewable energy development, it is also hedging its bets with fossil fuels to avoid power shortages and economic disruption. Whether this approach delays or ultimately supports the transition to clean energy will depend on how quickly China can modernize its grid, expand storage, and curb rising demand.

For now, the country’s energy landscape remains a paradox: a global champion of green power that still relies heavily on black coal to keep its lights on and its factories running.