Full Breakdown
China’s 15th Five-Year Plan Targets 50% Non-Fossil Electricity by 2030
6/27/2026, 11:57:18 AM
Plan Unveiled
On Thursday, the National Energy Administration (NEA) and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) released China’s 15th Five-Year Plan for a new energy system. It sets a 2030 goal that non-fossil sources supply 50% of electricity and that wind and solar together exceed 50% of new capacity. Generation capacity will rise to 5.8 billion tonnes of standard coal equivalent, with investment exceeding 20 trillion yuan (?US$2.9 trillion).
Prior Targets
The 2025 target of 42.3% non-fossil electricity is being superseded amid oil price shocks and fast-growing AI data-centre demand, heightening the need to decarbonise while maintaining energy security.
Key Leaders
NEA director Wang Hongzhi and senior NDRC officials, China’s top economic planner, presented the plan and stressed its role in meeting climate, security and industrial goals.
Targets
- Non-fossil electricity: 50% by 2030.
- Wind + solar capacity: >50% of total new capacity.
- Non-pumped hydro storage: 300 GW by 2030.
- Renewable hydrogen: 2 million t yr?¹ by 2030.
- Nuclear 110 GW; hydropower 410 GW; primary-energy non-fossil share 25%; coal to peak by 2030 (no level).
Impact
Achieving the 50% target would make China the world’s largest clean-energy builder, influencing global markets and climate pathways. Expanded storage and hydrogen aim to balance renewables, cut curtailment and serve hard-to-decarbonise sectors such as steel and shipping.
Official Response
Wang Hongzhi described the next five years as a period of greater security, resilience and a newer energy structure that improves integration, efficiency and innovation. The plan places clean power at the centre of China’s industrial, climate and energy-security agenda and mentions “space-based power stations” as a speculative option.
Criticism
Analysts note the lack of a quantified coal-peak level, questioning the plan’s climate ambition. They also flag cost barriers for renewable hydrogen and large-scale storage, and stress that high wind and solar shares will need substantial grid upgrades and market reforms.
Next Steps
The plan calls for a unified national electricity market by 2030, expanded cross-regional grid interconnection, and coordinated AI data-centre power use. NEA and NDRC will monitor progress against the milestones.
Quotes
> “In the next five years China’s energy system will feature greater security and resilience, and better, newer energy structure for integration, efficiency and innovation.” — Wang Hongzhi, NEA Director
> “We will optimise the overall planning and layout and strengthen support for key projects.” — Wang Hongzhi, NEA Director
> “The plan aims to expand non-pumped hydro energy storage to 300 gigawatts by 2030.” — China’s 15th Five-Year Plan
> “Coal will maintain its role as a baseload energy source, with five major coal production bases in Shanxi and western Inner Mongolia to be built, accounting for over 80% of national output by 2030.” — China’s 15th Five-Year Plan
