China

Solar

Solar is now bigger than coal in China — and yet still way behind

China has more solar capacity online than coal capacity. It’s a remarkable milestone, but the fossil fuel still generates far more electricity than solar does.

By Dan McCarthy .

4 September 2026

Two men in red hats and vests amid solar panels, with a coal facility in the distance — Technicians inspect solar panels in Huaibei, China. (Wan Shanchao/VCG via Getty Images)

Solar

How big can solar go? These 3 projects show us the gigascale future

A handful of sensationally large developments are underway around the world, testing just how big solar can get.

By Julian Spector . 19 May 2026
Long-duration energy storage

US battery startup builds factory in China after nixing Kentucky plant

With $300M in new funds, EnerVenue says China is in fact the best spot to scale its NASA-inspired tech — making the firm an outlier as peers grow U.S. manufacturing.

By Julian Spector . 29 April 2026
Clean energy manufacturing

China exports a ton of cleantech — and the world is poised to want more

The nation’s battery and EV exports in particular have grown in recent years. Now, the Middle East war could spur even more demand for Chinese clean-energy tech.

By Dan McCarthy . 17 April 2026
Clean energy manufacturing

Where in the world is clean energy technology made?

China continues to make the vast majority of the world’s solar, batteries, wind, and EV technology, both for its own needs and for export overseas.

By Dan McCarthy . 20 March 2026
Clean aluminum

China could be on the cusp of a green aluminum boom

As demand for the metal soars, the country is pursuing policies that will spur more smelters to run on clean electricity.

By Alexander C. Kaufman . 4 March 2026
Green steel

Chinese and European industry groups to decide on green-steel standards

Organizations representing about 60% of global steel production are collaborating on a framework to measure the climate impacts of making the metal.

By Alexander C. Kaufman . 17 November 2025
Clean industry

Chart: China leads the race to build green industrial projects

Over 1,000 facilities for making cleaner fuels, chemicals, and building materials are in the works in 70 countries. But China is pulling way ahead on investment.

By Maria Gallucci . 7 November 2025
Hydrogen

China moves to supercharge green hydrogen as US pulls back

The country's new policy is likely to boost the production of green hydrogen, which the country aims to use to decarbonize airplanes, ships, and heavy industry.

By Alexander C. Kaufman . 28 October 2025
Clean energy

Chart: Check out how fast China is shifting to renewables

China still emits more planet-warming pollution than any other country, but its furious build-out of wind and solar means the nation is scaling back on fossil fuels.

By Dan McCarthy . 26 September 2025
Green steel

China is winning on renewables. Will it win on green steel, too?

While the U.S. backtracks on green steel commitments, Chinese companies are starting to make iron with hydrogen. One just made its first export deal to Europe.

By Alexander C. Kaufman . 15 August 2025