China is building more than 500 GW of wind and solar capacity, underscoring the country’s unmatched pace in expanding renewable energy infrastructure, but a new report warns that outdated transmission networks could slow its clean energy transition. According to Global Energy Monitor (GEM), China currently has more than 500 gigawatts (GW) of wind and utility-scale solar capacity under construction, exceeding the combined total of every other country. In addition, the country has 664 GW of prospective utility-scale solar and 698 GW of prospective wind projects in the announced, pre-construction, or construction phases.

If this momentum continues, China could achieve its national target of wind and solar accounting for more than 50% of installed power capacity by the end of this year, well ahead of its 2030 Five-Year Plan timeline. However, rising renewable energy curtailment and inadequate grid infrastructure threaten to keep coal playing a significant role in China’s future energy mix.

Renewable Energy Growth Reaches Record Levels

China’s renewable energy pipeline continues to outpace the rest of the world.

• The report reveals that the country’s wind development pipeline grew by 37% between 2025 and 2026, while global wind development outside China remained largely unchanged, declining by about 1%.
• Already, 251 GW of wind capacity is under construction, more than twice the combined amount being built elsewhere.
• Once operational, this capacity alone could generate enough electricity annually to equal Germany’s total electricity production across all sources in 2025.

Most of this expansion is concentrated across six northwestern and northern provinces, which form the backbone of China’s large-scale desert renewable energy projects.

China Building More Than 500 GW of Wind and Solar Capacity Faces Grid Challenges

Despite the impressive expansion, the report highlights serious infrastructure constraints.

Grid transmission bottlenecks have caused solar curtailment rates of 10% to 17% in renewable-rich provinces such as Qinghai, Xinjiang, and Gansu, meaning a significant share of available solar electricity cannot be delivered to consumers. Wind curtailment in northern regions ranges from 4% to 9%.

China’s ultra-high voltage direct current (UHVDC) transmission network also remains heavily dependent on coal. Although 27 transmission lines are required to efficiently connect the country’s renewable energy megabases, the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan proposes constructing only 10 new UHVDC lines.

Even more concerning, coal still accounts for 42% of electricity transmitted through existing UHVDC networks, while wind and solar contribute only about one-fifth.

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Green Hydrogen Offers Opportunity but Coal Risks Persist

• China is also leading the world in green hydrogen production, with more than 10 GW of renewable energy capacity dedicated to hydrogen generation, nearly eight times the operating capacity of the rest of the world combined.

However, researchers caution that integrating renewables into heavy industries may not significantly reduce coal dependence.

• The report cites Baofeng Energy’s Inner Mongolia project, where a 1,000 MW wind and solar facility supplies green hydrogen for coal-to-olefins production.
• Although the project cuts annual coal consumption by 210,000 tonnes, this represents only 2.2% of the plant’s total coal use, raising concerns that renewable energy could become little more than a compliance measure rather than replacing fossil fuels.

According to Aiqun Yu, Research Analyst and Senior East Asia Strategist at Global Energy Monitor, the long-term success of China’s renewable energy strategy will not be measured by the number of gigawatts installed but by how effectively those projects replace coal-fired power. Without stronger grid investment and greater transmission capacity, China’s record-breaking renewable energy expansion may struggle to deliver its full climate benefits.

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