In China, power generation from coal and gas dropped by 5.4% in September due to increased hydropower output, while thermal power plant output fell to 517.5 billion kWh from 627.4 billion kWh in August, boosted by higher air-conditioning demand. Overall, power generation from coal and gas in China declined by 1.2% in the first nine months of the year.

In September, hydropower output in China spiked by 31.9%, contributing to a 1.5% increase in total power generation from a year earlier, totaling 826.2 billion kWh. However, just two months prior, generation from coal and gas surged by 4.3% in July due to higher summer demand, surpassing wind and solar power capacity.

Despite fluctuations, China’s power sector emissions hit a record low in the first half of the year, with higher output from non-hydrocarbon sources like wind, solar, and hydropower. These sources generated 23% more electricity compared to the previous year, while thermal power plant output decreased by 4%.

China is increasing wind and solar generation capacity, but coal capacity is also rising, with 11.29 GW of new coal power capacity approved in the first quarter of 2025, exceeding approvals from the first half of 2024. The country is also boosting domestic gas production to enhance energy security, resulting in a 12% annual decline in liquefied natural gas imports as of June, with increased pipeline imports from Russia.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: China’s Coal and Gas Generation Slid 5.4% in September