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A case study by the World Resources Institute (WRI) detailing a project in Shanxi, China, that transitioned displaced coal workers into the tourism sector, creating over 1,000 jobs and integrating 'just transition' principles into provincial government planning.

China is strategically transitioning its coal power fleet from a baseload generation role to providing system flexibility to support the rapid expansion of wind and solar energy. The country is on track to fully retrofit its existing coal fleet for flexibility by 2027, though the report emphasizes that clean flexibility solutions, particularly battery energy storage, must scale up to avoid locking in emissions beyond 2030.

This report by Global Energy Monitor and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) examines the structural inertia preventing a transition away from coal in China's power system. Despite a record decline in coal's share of power generation and the rapid expansion of renewables, coal capacity continues to grow due to high commissioning rates, strong project approvals, and institutional protections such as capacity payments and inflexible dispatch rules. The report highlights a significant gap between official retirement targets and actual progress, urging the development of a national roadmap for coal phase-down in the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan.

China is rapidly expanding its renewable energy capacity, with a 1.3 TW pipeline of utility-scale solar and wind projects and an operating capacity of 1.4 TW that surpassed thermal power in Q1 2025. While China leads globally in offshore wind capacity and technology, including floating platforms and high-capacity turbines, the sector faces challenges from the 2021 phaseout of national subsidies and competition from ongoing fossil fuel development in coastal provinces.

This July 2025 briefing by Global Energy Monitor details China's leadership in utility-scale solar and wind energy, highlighting a 1.3 TW pipeline of prospective capacity and the rapid growth of its offshore wind sector, which now accounts for 50% of global capacity.

The report 'Boom and Bust Coal 2025' tracks global coal-fired power plant developments in 2024, highlighting a stark contrast between the decline of coal in the EU and UK and a surge in new construction in China and India.

This report by Global Energy Monitor and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) examines the conflicting dynamics of China's energy transition in 2024, where record-breaking clean energy expansion is occurring simultaneously with a significant increase in coal power construction and approvals.

This report by Global Energy Monitor examines China's coal mining sector, highlighting a record-breaking production of 4,700 million tonnes in 2023 and a massive pipeline of proposed new capacity. It details the environmental impact, specifically the sector's role as a primary source of global coal mine methane emissions, and analyzes the tension between China's energy security needs and its 'dual-carbon' climate goals.

A briefing by Global Energy Monitor and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) reports that China is at risk of missing multiple 2025 climate commitments due to an acceleration in coal power permitting and construction. Despite official pledges to strictly control new coal power, an estimated 114 GW of capacity was approved and 70 GW started construction in 2023. The report argues that this expansion is driven by rigid grid management and a perceived 'policy window' before 2025, leading to significant risks of future overcapacity and stranded assets.

This briefing by Global Energy Monitor and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) analyzes a surge in coal power permitting and construction in China during the first half of 2023. The report finds that new projects are being approved at a pace of more than one plant per week, often ignoring central government policies that restrict new coal to a 'supporting' role for clean energy. The authors argue that this 'coal rush' is driven by a desire to maximize carbon-intensive capacity before the 2030 emissions peak, outdated grid management, and a shift away from fossil gas, potentially undermining China's long-term climate commitments.

This June 2023 report by Global Energy Monitor analyzes China's rapid expansion of utility-scale solar and wind power. It details current operational capacities, projected growth through the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), and the strategic role of large-scale energy bases in the northwest. The document also examines the policy drivers, supply chain advantages, and emerging trends such as 'source-grid-load-storage integration' and green hydrogen production used to manage the intermittency of renewable energy.

This report by Global Energy Monitor and Oxpeckers analyzes global coal mine proposals, finding that 2,277 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of new capacity is under development. This expansion is led by China, Australia, India, and Russia, and is largely inconsistent with the 1.5°C warming limit of the Paris climate agreement.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative examines the landscape of green and climate finance in China, highlighting the gap between current investment levels and the funding required to meet climate targets. It analyzes the dominance of the public sector, regional investment patterns, and the barriers preventing private capital from scaling, while offering recommendations for policy improvements and the greening of outbound investments.

This report by the Climate Bonds Initiative and SynTao Green Finance analyzes the potential for green bond issuance in China to support its transition to a low-carbon economy. It details the investment needs under the 13th Five-Year Plan, the role of green finance pilot zones, and the regulatory framework governing green bonds. The document emphasizes the need for private sector capital to fill a significant funding gap and advocates for the harmonization of green definitions to attract international investors.

This fact sheet describes a green municipal bond issued by the Jiangxi Province of China on June 18, 2019, which is the first of its kind by a local government in China.

This fact sheet details a CNY200 million green bond issued by Xinjiang New Energy (Group) Co., Ltd. on June 17, 2019, to refinance operational renewable energy and waste treatment projects in China.

The report 'State of the Market 2018: Corporate Renewable Procurement in China' analyzes the transition of China's renewable energy market from a feed-in-tariff (FiT) system to a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). It examines the available mechanisms for corporations to procure green electricity, noting that while on-site solar and direct investments are currently viable, large-scale transaction mechanisms remain limited and dependent on evolving provincial and national policies.

This report analyzes the financing challenges and models for soil remediation in China, where 16.1% of soil is contaminated. It highlights a critical funding gap, noting that while the government has allocated billions, the total need may reach trillions of yuan. The report discusses the failure of the 'polluter pays' principle due to historical land ownership ambiguities and suggests diversifying investment through green bonds, PPPs, and international loans to attract social capital.

The China Green Bond Market Mid Year Report 2017 details the growth and diversification of China's green bond market in the first half of 2017, highlighting a total issuance of USD 11.52bn and a shift toward non-bank issuers. The report outlines various policy updates, the emergence of green municipal bonds, and the alignment of Chinese bonds with international standards.

This report evaluates China's 2010 reform of residential electricity pricing, which transitioned from a flat-rate system to a tiered electricity pricing (TEP) mechanism. The reform aimed to improve energy efficiency, reduce environmental pollution, and address the regressive nature of flat subsidies that disproportionately benefited high-income households. While the central government set general principles, provincial governments designed specific price ladders and volume blocks. The report analyzes the impacts on different income groups, the role of grid companies, and the challenges of public communication and operational feasibility.