China Sees Record Coal Plant Bids Even as Usage Declines, Report Finds

China fielded a record number of proposals for new coal-fired power plants last year — even as generation from fossil fuels fell amid a surge of clean energy.

Proposed new and re-activated projects rose to 161 gigawatts in 2025, according to a joint report from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, and Global Energy Monitor. China also commissioned 78 gigawatts of new coal plants last year, the most in a decade, and started construction on another 83 gigawatts, according to the report.