China has made solid strides in new energy development, the National Energy Administration said on October 26th. From January to September this year, newly installed wind and solar power capacity reached approximately 170 million kilowatts (kW). As of the end of September 2026, the cumulative installed capacity of wind and solar power reached 2.01 billion kW, including 1.31 billion kW of solar power (up 16.5% year-on-year) and 700 million kW of wind power (up 20.4% year-on-year).

With its rapid expansion, new energy is playing an irreplaceable role across the energy sector.

First, it has become the primary force driving the energy transition. From January to September this year, combined wind and solar power generation totaled 1,933.3 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh), an increase of 193.7 billion kWh over the same period last year. The incremental output from wind and solar power accounted for 64% of the growth in electricity consumption nationwide, as the carbon-reduction benefits of the large-scale substitution of new energy for traditional fossil fuels continue to be unleashed.

Second, it serves as a critical pillar safeguarding energy security. The leapfrog development of new energy has effectively enhanced the level of intrinsic energy security, enabling China to navigate the global energy crisis with composure. On the day of peak load during this year's summer peak demand period, the maximum midday output of wind and solar power accounted for over 40% of the total load at that time, keeping power supply generally reliable during the midday peak.

Third, it acts as a vital engine driving energy investment. With projects spanning from large-scale bases to distributed generation, and from onshore to offshore installations, the new energy industry features a long industrial chain, broad spillover effects, and high technological intensity, consistently remaining a focal point for investment in the energy sector. From January to September this year, completed investment in wind and solar power nationwide accounted for approximately one-third of total completed investment across the energy sector.

Source: PEARL

中国风光电累计装机容量突破20亿千瓦

10月26日，记者从国家能源局获悉，中国新能源发展迈出坚实步伐，今年1—9月，风电和太阳能发电新增装机容量约1.7亿千瓦，截至2026年9月底，风电和太阳能发电累计装机容量达到20.1亿千瓦，其中，太阳能发电装机容量13.1亿千瓦，同比增长16.5%；风电装机容量7.0亿千瓦，同比增长20.4%。

新能源快速发展，在能源领域发挥了不可取代的作用：

一是成为推进能源转型的主要力量。今年1—9月，风光发电量19333亿千瓦时，比去年同期增加1937亿千瓦时，风光发电增量占全社会新增用电量的64%，新能源大规模替代传统化石能源的减碳效益持续释放。

二是成为保障能源安全的关键支撑。新能源跨越式发展有效提升了能源本质安全水平，助力中国从容应对全球能源危机，今年迎峰度夏最大负荷日，当日午间风光最大出力占到当时总负荷的比重超40%，保障午间高峰供电基本可靠。

三是成为拉动能源投资的重要引擎。从大基地到分布式，从陆上到海上，新能源产业链条长、带动范围广、技术密集度高，始终是能源领域投资的关键发力点，今年1—9月，全国风电和太阳能发电完成投资额约占能源领域完成投资额的三分之一。

文｜记者 董鹏程
译 | 陈冠臻
审 | 盛嘉