Beijing burned more coal and gas in the first quarter of 2026, despite record wind and solar build-out

China’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions grew by 2% in the first quarter of 2026, after a rise in the amount of “wasted” wind and solar power.

Beijing burned more coal and gas in the first quarter of 2026, despite record wind and solar build-out

Wasted wind and solar energy caused by ‘inflexible management of coal power plants and power grids, not a lack of grid infrastructure’: CREA.