China wasted enough wind and solar power in the first half of this year to cover all new electricity demand, according to a report, as bottlenecks in grid absorption failed to stem a rebound in coal-fired generation. The curtailed energy exceeded the 258 terawatt-hours of power demand growth during the period, the two non-profit organisations said, meaning all new electricity needs could have been met – and coal power generation reduced – if the clean energy had been absorbed into the grid. Coal-fired power generation rebounded by 3.4 per cent year on year in the first half of 2026, reversing the 2025 decline. “On a national energy basis, available clean electricity was therefore sufficient to push down coal power generation,” the report said. “However, the figures show that the rebound in coal power generation reflected limits in grid integration, dispatch and power trading rather than a national shortage of clean electricity.”