China's electricity production for the first quarter of 2026 reached approximately 2.29 trillion kilowatt-hours (kWh), marking a year-on-year increase of 5.1%, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics. The growth rate was slightly higher than the 4.9% increase recorded in the same period the previous year.
Thermal power generation, which remains the dominant source, saw an increase of 4.5%. Meanwhile, clean energy sources continued their rapid expansion. Power generation from solar energy surged by 28.1% year-on-year, while wind power output grew by 11.9%.
The steady growth in power output is seen as an indicator of sustained industrial activity and economic momentum. Analysts note that the accelerating contribution from renewable sources aligns with the country's long-term energy transition goals, though coal-fired power still constitutes the majority of the energy mix.
