China's Installed Power Generation Capacity Breaks 4 Billion kW, Surpassing US, EU, India, Japan, and Russia Combined
China’s installed power generation capacity has reached a historic milestone, breaking through the 4 billion kW (400 GW) mark and ranking first globally — exceeding the combined total of the United States, European Union, India, Japan, and Russia.
The National Energy Administration announced today that as of the end of May 2026, the country’s total installed power generation capacity stood at 4.01 billion kW, cementing its position as the world’s largest power generation market by a wide margin.
From 2010 to 2025, China’s installed capacity grew at an average annual rate of 9.7%, far outpacing the United States (1.7%), the European Union (3.2%), India (7.1%), Japan (2.9%), and Russia (1.2%).
A Clean Energy Transition in Full Swing
The structure of China’s power generation fleet has undergone a dramatic transformation. Coal power’s share of total installed capacity has fallen from 61% in 2010 to just 32% as of May 2026. Meanwhile, non-fossil energy sources — including hydro, wind, solar, and nuclear — now account for 62% of the total, up from 25% in 2010.
Since 2010, renewable energy has accounted for 73% of all new installed capacity additions. Among these, wind power contributed 21% and solar power an impressive 43%, underscoring the accelerating shift toward clean energy.
Accelerating Milestones
The pace at which China adds each additional 1 billion kW of capacity has accelerated dramatically:
- 1 billion kW: Reached in 2011 (1.06 billion kW)
- 2 billion kW: Reached in 2019 (2.01 billion kW)
- 3 billion kW: Reached in April 2024 (3.01 billion kW)
- 4 billion kW: Reached in May 2026 (4.01 billion kW)
The time required to add each successive 1 billion kW of capacity has shrunk from 8 years to 5 years, and then to approximately 2 years for the most recent increment — a testament to the sheer scale and velocity of China’s power infrastructure buildout.
With non-fossil sources now making up nearly two-thirds of total capacity and accelerating, China is on track to further cement its leadership in global renewable energy deployment.