Solar is poised to overtake coal as China’s largest source of installed power capacity this year, as Beijing steps up its green transition with a renewed emphasis on efficiency, quality and orderly growth over sheer scale.Total installed solar capacity reached 1.27 billion kilowatts (kW) by the end of June and was projected to surpass coal before the end of the year, state-run People’s Daily reported on Wednesday, citing the China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA).Solar power generation also surged more than 40 per cent year on year in the first half of 2026, meeting one-third of peak electricity demand during midday heatwaves.The growth comes as Beijing continues to place renewable energy at the centre of its climate and energy strategy, with the government targeting further expansion in solar and wind power capacity as part of efforts to meet the country’s 2030 carbon-peak goal.Under a road map for renewable energy targets over the next five years released last week, total installed solar and wind capacity was projected to exceed 2.8 million kW by 2030, up from 1.84 million kW in 2025.That would put renewable energy at more than half of total installed capacity, generating 30 per cent of electricity output by the end of the decade, according to the plan.Even so, Beijing stressed the need to prioritise quality alongside growth, aiming to provide a more “reliable replacement” for fossil fuels. Improved operational efficiency across power generation, grid transmission and end use would be needed, as well as a shift from raw expansion towards economic value, according to an explanation by the National Development and Reform Commission, China’s top economic planner.