China is playing two games at once: leading the world in renewable energy and building more coal plants than ever.
They are making record-breaking amounts of solar energy, wind energy, and batteries with big plans of peak carbon emissions by 2030 and full carbon neutrality by 2060. And they are actually ahead of schedule.
But on the other hand, in 2024, China started building 94.5 GW of new coal power, restarted another 3.3 GW, and approved 66.7 GW more in just half a year. That’s the biggest coal surge in a decade, which raises questions about whether China can actually stick to its climate goals.
The world’s second-largest economy is trying to go green while still relying heavily on fossil fuels. This mix of choices between clean energy and cautious backup is indecisively messy.
China’s contradiction: It’s not either/or—it’s both
China has built out a massive amount of clean energy. Its solar panels and wind farms are powering more and more homes and factories. It’s investing in batteries, expanding electric transport, and leading in climate tech. Even big automakers and technology companies are on board.
But demand for energy is still exploding. Climate extremes, situations like heat waves and deep freezes, keep stressing the grid. And right now, coal is still the most stable fallback when the weather doesn’t cooperate or when demand spikes.
That’s why the country hasn’t cut coal off. Instead, it’s using it as a kind of insurance policy.
And behind most of these new coal projects? The mining sector. Over 75% of newly approved coal plants are backed by coal companies or energy groups tied to mining. With 2030 targets looming, these companies are scrambling to stay relevant and profitable.
The situation today is just a confusing contradiction. China is racing into the future but also dragging the past along with it.
Why is coal still growing?
Just a few years ago, things looked different. In 2015, China approved 84.3 GW of new coal capacity. By 2021, that had dropped to just 32.1 GW. But then things flipped.
In 2022, coal proposals jumped to 146 GW. Then 117 GW in 2023. Even though proposals dropped to 68.9 GW in 2024, actual building ramped up again.
This huge rebound comes down to energy security. China doesn’t want blackouts. After power shortages during cold snaps and heatwaves, officials are cautious. Coal is reliable no matter the weather conditions. You don’t have to wait for sun or wind because you just have to burn it.
Plus, the clean energy system isn’t quite ready to take over fully. Transmission is uneven, and storage isn’t widespread yet. But the demand is rising, especially with more electric vehicles and smart infrastructure, so for now, coal is the backup policymakers are still comfortable using.
What about the future?
China is serious about cutting emissions and 2025 is up for a big test. They’ll need to stop greenlighting more coal and start retiring old plants.
They need to take action if they want to keep the 2030 carbon threshold. Stronger policies migth be needed like better incentives for clean energy, reforming how power providers are rewarded, cutting long-term coal supply deals and speeding up battery and grid tech.
And maybe most importantly, it means letting go of the idea that coal equals safety. If China can trust its clean systems to deliver and keep building smarter, it won’t need to fall back on old habits.
There’s no doubt China can do it, they have been an inspiration for many other countries. It’s already proven it can lead in energy tech. But now it has to make the hard choice: keep adding coal, or commit fully to a clean future.
And that choice won’t just shape China’s future… it’ll help shape the planet’s too.