ChinaEnergy Transition Review 2026China's energy transition is moving toward "building while breaking," as its clean energy system begins assuming functions long performed by fossil fuels.8 September 2026Muyi YangBiqing YangAditya LollaRaul MirandaThis report examines how far China's clean energy transition has progressed, whether its momentum can be sustained and what China's trajectory means for the rest of the world. It moves beyond the familiar debate over whether China's clean energy build-out represents genuine transition or mere addition, asking instead whether clean electricity is beginning to take over the functions long performed by fossil fuels. The analysis traces this shift across power generation, system flexibility and the electrification of industry and transport, and considers whether the transition can carry through its more demanding "building while breaking" phase, before setting out what China's progress means for how other countries approach their own energy choices. It draws on Chinese public data, international sources such as the International Energy Agency and World Bank and Ember's own datasets.Read the report online at:https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/china-energy-transition-review-2026/2AboutProvincial-level regions tracked in this report where coal generation has turned flat. 26% of China’s new truck sales were electric in 2025, a share leading European markets have only just reached for passenger cars. In 2025, China's clean technology exports surpassed USD 220 billion, bringing them closer in scale to the country's traditional export "old three": garments, furniture and household appliances.Highlights17 of 2626%$220 bnExecutive summary 4Two stories, one transition 4A deeper shift is underway 5The “old” system is beginning to register the shift 6Progress is bringing harder challenges, but momentum is firm 9Chapter 1: Deeper integration 101.1 Generation: renewable build-out is changing the coal story 101.2 System: Clean flexibility gains scale 141.3 Economy: Electrification reaches more demanding uses 171.4 Emerging signs of fossil-fuel peaking 21Chapter 2: Why the momentum holds 252.1 What the next phase requires 252.2 Adapting the policy toolkit 272.3 The growing-by-greening dynamic 31Chapter 3: What China’s transition means 363.1 Energy security through reduced import exposure 373.2 Economic growth beyond rising fossil-fuel use 393.3 Global fossil-fuel demand growth is losing its historical engine 42Supporting materials 44Methodology 443ContentsExecutive summaryChina's energy transition is entering a more demanding phase, in which clean electricity begins to take over roles long held by fossil fuels across power generation, system balancing and the broader economy. New challenges come with it, and the near-term path is likely to be uneven as the policy toolkit adapts. But the momentum is increasingly anchored in a "growing-by-gree...
