China announces plan to expand solar, wind capacity 53% by 2030, even as coal grows
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China announces plans to boost solar and wind power output by 53% by 2030, raising total renewable energy production to 1.8 billion tonnes of coal equivalent. The plan, part of the 15th Five-Year Plan, was issued jointly by the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration. The push comes even as the world's largest emitter continues to expand coal production to meet rising energy demand.
The Renewables Ramp-Up
China plans to increase solar and wind power output by 53% by 2030 from 2025 levels, with total renewable energy production reaching 1.8 billion tce. The targets, set under the 15th Five-Year Plan, include adding over 300 GW of dispatchable renewable capacity and using 150 million tce of wind and solar for non-power sectors like green hydrogen and heating. By the end of the decade, China aims for 570 GW of hydropower capacity, including 160 GW of pumped storage, and an increase in green hydrogen output to 2 million metric tons. The country already has a solar pipeline of 664 GW and a wind pipeline of nearly 700 GW, comprising a significant share of global projects.
Coal's Persistent Role
Even as renewables surge, China is not stepping away from coal, which still supplies the bulk of its electricity. The government has not announced plans to cap or reduce coal production, and in 2024 alone, it added new coal-fired capacity alongside record renewable installations. Rising power demand, driven by electrification and industrial activity, keeps coal expansion central to the country's energy policy. This dual strategy highlights the tension between China's climate pledges—peak emissions by 2030, carbon neutrality by 2060—and its near-term energy security needs.
What's Next
The new renewable plan will be implemented through the 15th Five-Year Plan period, with provincial governments expected to detail local targets later this year. Whether China can meet its 2030 peak emissions goal while expanding both coal and renewables remains an open question, as global scrutiny intensifies.
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China announces plan to expand solar, wind capacity 53% by 2030, even as coal grows
