Solar power becomes China’s largest electricity source

China’s solar power capacity has overtaken coal-fired generation for the first time. By the end of July, solar installations had reached 1,286 gigawatts, compared with 1,285 gigawatts for coal-fired plants.

Solar now represents 31.5% of China’s total electricity generation capacity. The shift follows years of expansion in the country’s solar sector.

That growth, however, slowed during the first seven months of the year. China installed 62% less new solar capacity than during the same period last year.

The slowdown followed changes to the rules governing solar projects, including the removal of a minimum purchase price. The figures mark a major change in the balance between solar and coal, even as new solar construction has lost momentum.