China's solar capacity overtakes coal; how does India compare?

China's installed solar capacity has surpassed coal-fired power capacity for the first time, reaching 1,286 gigawatts by end of July and accounting for 31.5 percent of total generation capacity, according to the National Energy Administration. Coal's share of electricity generation fell below 50 percent in the first half of 2026. Solar generated 802.4 billion kilowatt-hours in the first seven months of 2026, up 15.5 percent year-on-year, and China produces about 80 percent of global solar modules. Grid investment is expected to exceed 5 trillion yuan ($743.8 billion) during 2026-30 to handle renewable expansion. India's installed solar capacity stands at 164.59 GW as of July 31, 2026, nearly eight times smaller than China's, though it added a record 44.61 GW in 2025-26. India overtook the US in annual additions in June 2026, and its minister projects solar will surpass coal capacity by 2036.