China's coal-rich Shanxi sees new, clean energy capacity surpass coal power for first time

TAIYUAN, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- The coal-rich province of Shanxi in north China witnessed its installed capacity of new and clean energy exceed that of coal-fired power for the first time in 2025, according to the ongoing annual session of its provincial people's congress.

Last year, the installed capacity of new and clean energy hit 90.48 gigawatts, an increase of 18.29 gigawatts year on year, accounting for 55.1 percent of the province's total power capacity.

During the period from 2021 to 2025, installed power capacity in Shanxi had reached 164 gigawatts, with electricity generated in Shanxi supplied to 24 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, ranking among the top regions in the country in terms of scale.

Shanxi saw its annual new energy generation surpass 100 billion kWh for the first time in 2025, reaching 118 billion kWh, said the State Grid Shanxi Electric Power Co., Ltd.

The province has been transforming former coal-mining subsidence areas, which are characterized by the ground subsiding and collapsing after underground coal resources are exhausted, into new energy hubs.

Over the next five years, Shanxi will continue to vigorously advance its energy transition and strive to add 100 million kilowatts of renewable energy capacity, the session noted. ■