China Electricity Mix
China generated 37.0% of its electricity from renewable sources in 2025, above the world average of 33.8%. Each kilowatt-hour produced emitted about 525 grams of CO₂.
Data year 2025 · Source: Ember and Energy Institute via Our World in Data
How much electricity in China comes from renewables?
Renewable sources produced 37.0% of the electricity generated in China in 2025. The world average was 33.8% in 2025. That is up from 16.6% in 2000. That ranks China 91st of 210 countries and territories by renewable share.
Electricity mix by source
Coal is the largest source of electricity in China, at 54.3% of generation, followed by hydro at 13.2% and solar at 11.1%. Fossil fuels together supplied 58.3% and nuclear 4.6%.
Carbon intensity of electricity
Generating one kilowatt-hour of electricity in China emitted about 525 grams of CO₂ in 2025, close to the world average of 458 g. At that rate, a business using 10,000 kWh a year would be responsible for roughly 5,253 kg of CO₂ from electricity.
This is an estimate based on the generation mix. For a formal carbon report, use the grid factor published by the national energy or environment agency. Our guide to emission factors explains the difference.
How China compares
Countries closest to China when ranked by renewable share of electricity. See the full ranking, or the CO₂ emissions of China.
| # | Country | Renewables | Low-carbon | g CO₂/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89 | Belgium | 38.9% | 72.0% | 150 |
| 90 | Australia | 38.6% | 38.6% | 525 |
| 91 | China | 37.0% | 41.7% | 525 |
| 92 | Ghana | 36.2% | 36.2% | 469 |
| 93 | Bolivia | 36.1% | 36.1% | 481 |
Frequently asked questions
What share of electricity in China is renewable?
37.0% in 2025. That is up from 16.6% in 2000. Counting nuclear as well, 41.7% of electricity came from low-carbon sources.
What is the main source of electricity in China?
Coal is the largest source of electricity in China, at 54.3% of generation, followed by hydro at 13.2% and solar at 11.1%.
How clean is electricity in China?
Generating one kilowatt-hour emitted about 525 grams of CO₂ in 2025, close to the world average of 458 g.
Is renewable electricity growing in China?
The renewable share has risen by 20.4 percentage points, from 16.6% in 2000 to 37.0% in 2025.
About the data. Shares are percentages of the electricity generated inside the country in a year. Renewables are hydro, wind, solar, bioenergy and other renewable sources. Low-carbon adds nuclear. The latest year differs between countries and is shown on each page. Carbon intensity is an estimate of the CO₂ emitted per kilowatt-hour generated, including emissions over the life of each power source.
Source: Ember and the Energy Institute Statistical Review of World Energy, processed by Our World in Data and used under the CC BY 4.0 licence.
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