China’s renewable energy sector continued its rapid expansion in the first quarter of 2026, with new installations accounting for the vast majority of overall power capacity growth, according to a press briefing on Monday by the National Energy Administration (NEA). 

Renewable energy capacity continued its steady growth, further optimizing China’s energy structure. By the end of March, total installed renewable energy capacity reached approximately 2.4 billion kilowatts, accounting for more than 60% of the national total. Combined wind and solar capacity stood at around 1.9 billion kilowatts, approaching half of the country’s overall installed capacity, said Pan Huimin, deputy head of the NEA’s new and renewable energy department.

Electricity generation from renewable sources increased steadily, providing strong support for overall power supply. In the first quarter, nationwide renewable generation reached 882.9 billion kilowatt-hours, accounting for 37.1% of total electricity output.

China’s renewable hydrogen industry also continued to expand. By the end of March, the country’s annual renewable hydrogen production capacity had exceeded 1 million tonnes. Of this, more than 250,000 tonnes of capacity is already operational – over double the level at the end of 2024 – while projects under construction account for more than 900,000 tonnes.

As of March 2026, China has built a total of 21.48 million electric vehicle charging units nationwide, up 46.9% year-on-year, reflecting the continued rapid expansion of the country’s EV infrastructure.