In the third quarter of 2026, the national coal-fired power generation has continued to decline year-on-year for three consecutive months, and the proportion of coal-fired power generation has remained stable below 50% for the first time, laying a solid foundation for ensuring coal supply during the peak winter season.

The proportion of coal-fired power generation has fallen below 50%

In July, August, and September of 2026, the national coal-fired power generation will decrease by 4.0%, 4.6%, and 1.9% year-on-year, respectively, and the consumption of coal for electricity will also decline synchronously. After the proportion of coal-fired power generation fell below 50% for the first time in the first half of the year, this proportion will further decrease to 49.1% by the end of September 2026, and the proportion of newly added coal-fired power generation to the total new electricity consumption in society will synchronously fall to 4.4%.

Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power continue to be connected to the grid for power generation, gradually replacing the incremental electricity consumption of traditional coal-fired power. The progress of the green transformation of the power supply structure exceeds the industry's previous expectations. The load regulation logic of the national power system is undergoing a profound transformation, and the core function of coal-fired power is gradually transitioning from the main power supply to the system's backup and flexible regulation of power supply.

Peak winter electricity coal inventory is at a high level

As of October 25, 2026, the total amount of coal stored in ports around the Bohai Sea reached 26.92 million tons, an increase of 2.15 million tons year-on-year. Among them, Qinhuangdao Port had 5.95 million tons of coal stored, an increase of 420000 tons year-on-year. The inventory of coal in northern ports remained at a high level in recent years. The total amount of coal stored in power plants nationwide has reached 210 million tons, with an average usable days of 35 days, which is basically the same as the average level of the same period in the past three years. Keywords: energy generation, coal-fired power

The measures to increase coal production and ensure supply continue to be implemented, and the national coal supply is steadily recovering. The overall coal consumption remains stable, and the market supply-demand gap is further narrowing. The combination of high inventory levels and stable transportation capacity guarantees a solid fuel foundation for the stable supply of residential heating and industrial electricity during the peak winter season, which can fully ensure the safe and stable operation of the power system during the winter electricity peak period.Editor/Cheng Liting