Significant Progress in Energy Transition and Remarkable Achievements in Green and Low-Carbon Development

Significant Progress in Energy Transition and Remarkable Achievements in Green and Low-Carbon Development

—Series Report XIV on Achievements in Economic and Social Development during the 14th Five-Year Plan Period

National Bureau of Statistics, June 5, 2026

During the14thFive-Year Plan period, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China thoroughly implemented the new energy security strategy featuring Four Reforms and One Cooperation, ensured both development and security, and made coordinated efforts to advance energy supply security and green and low-carbon transition. Energy security was better safeguarded, energy efficiency was significantly enhanced, the energy structure was optimized at a faster pace, and international cooperation was deepened and expanded. Major phased achievements were made in building a modern energy system that is clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient, providing a solid energy foundation for high-quality economic and social development.

I. Energy Supply Security Better Safeguarded and Power Supply Resilience Enhanced

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China continuously intensified efforts in energy exploration and development, optimized the distribution of energy development, steadily enhanced the capacity for self-sufficient energy supply, further consolidated the supply foundation, and successfully established the world’s largest and fastest-growing renewable energy system. In 2025, China’s total primary energy production reached 5.13 billion tons of standard coal, an increase of 27.3% compared to 2020, with an average annual growth rate of 5.0%, providing a solid energy foundation for maintaining economic and social stability.

(I) Orderly Release of High-Quality Coal Production Capacity, Playing a Safety Net Role

China steadily promoted the construction of advanced coal production capacity and thoroughly implemented measures to stabilize production, supply, and prices, ensuring a stable and ample coal supply. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, raw coal output increased for five consecutive years, reaching 4.85 billion tons in 2025, up by 24.3% from 2020, with an average annual growth rate of 4.4%, laying a solid foundation for stable energy supply. Production increases were significant in the major producing areas of raw coal. In 2025, the raw coal output of eight provinces (autonomous regions) with production exceeding 100 million tons ^[1] accounted for 91.3% of the national total, up by 2.2 percentage points from 2020. Besides, the concentration of raw coal enterprises continued to rise. The number of production enterprises decreased by 280 compared to 2020. Among them, the large enterprises with an annual output exceeding 10 million tons accounted for 43.3%, an increase of 3.3 percentage points from 2020. The large-scale and intensive development of the coal industry was continuously enhanced, effectively playing its role as a “ballast stone” in ensuring energy security.

(II) Steady Progress in Increasing the Reserve and Production Volume of Oil and Gas, Continuously Improving the Self-Sufficiency Capability

China vigorously implemented actions to explore and develop oil and gas for higher reserves and production volumes. Oil and gas production enterprises continuously intensified their exploration and development efforts, successfully concluding the “Seven-Year Plan” for increasing reserves and production volumes. The momentum for stable and increased oil and gas production remained positive, and the self-sufficiency capability continued to strengthen. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, crude oil output remained stable above 200 million tons for four consecutive years, reaching a record high of 216 million tons in 2025, an increase of 10.9% compared to 2020, with an average annual growth rate of 2.1%. Natural gas output increased by over 10 billion cubic meters for nine consecutive years, reaching 262.1 billion cubic meters in 2025, a growth of 36.1% compared to 2020, with an average annual growth rate of 6.4%. To further enhance the stability of oil and gas supply, China continuously improved the layout of oil and gas pipeline networks, accelerated the construction of backbone pipelines to transmit gas from west to east China, from north to south China, and from Sichuan to east China, and completed the 14th Five-Year Plan target of constructing 16,500 kilometers of oil and gas pipelines ahead of schedule. China also optimized the construction of oil and gas reserve systems, with a number of national-level oil and gas reserve bases established, significantly enhancing oil and gas reserve capacity and solidifying the oil and gas security line for China’s energy security.

(III) Repeated Historical Highs of Power Generation Scale, Ensuring Safe, Stable, and Reliable Power Supply

China continuously strengthened its capacity to ensure power supply, led the world in power construction, achieved leapfrog growth in electricity generation and installed power generation capacity, ensuring a safe, stable, and reliable power supply. During the14th Five-Year Plan period, electricity generation exceeded 10 trillion kWh for two consecutive years, reaching 10,575.2 billion kWh in 2025, an increase of 35.9% compared to 2020, with an average annual growth rate of 6.3%. By energy source, electricity generation from thermal power, hydropower, nuclear power, wind power, and solar power increased by 18.7%, 7.9%, 32.5%, 141.8%, and 349.8%, respectively, compared to 2020. The growth rate of clean power generation was significantly higher than that of traditional power generation. In 2025, the newly added electricity generation from wind and solar power accounted for over 90% of the newly added electricity consumption of the whole society, becoming the main source of newly added power generation.

(IV) Rapid Growth in the Installed Capacity of Wind and Solar Power, Achieving Leapfrog Development of New Energy Storage

By the end of 2025, the national installed power generation capacity ^[2] reached 3.89 billion kilowatts, an increase of 76.8% compared to 2020, with an average annual growth rate of 12.1%. The total installed capacity of renewable energy reached 2.34 billion kilowatts, maintaining its position as the world’s largest. Among these, thermal power installed capacity was 1.54 billion kilowatts, accounting for less than 40% of the national installed power generation capacity for the first time, with an average annual growth rate of 4.3%; wind power installed capacity was 640 million kilowatts, an increase of 127.3% compared to 2020, with an average annual growth rate of 17.9%; solar power installed capacity was 1.2 billion kilowatts, an increase of 374.2% compared to 2020, with an average annual growth rate of 36.5%. The rapid development of renewable energy placed higher demands on the safe, stable operation and flexibility of the power system, and effectively propelled new energy storage into a stage of large-scale and rapid development. By the end of 2025, the installed capacity of new-type energy storage ^[3] that had been built and put into operation nationwide reached 136 million kilowatts/351 million kWh, an increase of over 40 times compared to the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period, achieving leapfrog development and providing strong support for renewable energy consumption.

(V) Continuous Increase in the Share of Clean Energy and Steady Enhancement of Energy Supply Capability

From 2021 to 2025, China’s energy production structure underwent a remarkable green and low-carbon transformation. The share of traditional energy sources such as raw coal and crude oil continued to decline, while the share of clean energy increased substantially. Among them, the proportion of raw coal in total primary energy production decreased from 67.1% in 2020 to 61.4% in 2025, a drop of 5.7 percentage points; the proportion of crude oil decreased from 6.9% to 6.0%, a drop of 0.9 percentage points. Clean energy sources, including natural gas, hydropower, nuclear power, wind power, and solar power, accelerated their development. The proportion of natural gas increased from 6.1% to 6.4%, a rise of 0.3 percentage points; the proportion of primary electricity and other energy sources increased from 19.9% to 26.2%, a rise of 6.3 percentage points.

II. Diversified and Stable Energy Imports, and Deepened and Expanded International Cooperation

In the face of profound adjustments in the global energy landscape and the accelerated advancement of China’s domestic endeavor promoting green and low-carbon transition, China kept in mind both domestic and international imperatives, adhered to the development philosophy of opening up and cooperation for mutual benefit, and continuously implemented the strategy of energy opening-up and cooperation. On the basis of ensuring domestic energy self-sufficiency, China proactively integrated into the global energy governance system, optimized the energy import structure, deepened international energy cooperation, built a diversified, stable, secure, and controllable energy import system, and made significant advances in promoting international energy cooperation.

(I) Steadily Growing Import Scale and Increasingly Resilient Supply Chain

China’s energy import scale grew steadily, effectively compensating for domestic energy supply-demand gaps. China’s supply chain also became more and more resilient. In 2025, China’s total net energy imports ^[4] reached 1.34 billion tons of standard coal, an increase of 19.4% compared to 2020, with an average annual growth rate of 3.6% from 2021 to 2025. By energy source, net imports of raw coal were 490 million tons, with an average annual growth rate of 10.0%; net imports of crude oil were 580 million tons, with an average annual growth rate of 1.3%; net imports of natural gas were 176.5 billion cubic meters, with an average annual growth rate of 4.7%. In addition, China continuously optimized its structure of import sources and layout of import channels to reduce dependence on single sources. Oil and gas import sources covered multiple regions, including the Middle East, Russia, Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The four major oil and gas import channels—Northeast, Northwest, Southwest, and maritime—operated stably, forming an import pattern characterized by “land-sea coordination and multi-channel parallel operation,” effectively enhancing the security, stability, and economic efficiency of the energy supply chain.

(II) Steady Progress in International Cooperation and Fruitful Outcomes in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)

Guided by the principle of consultation and contribution for shared benefit, China comprehensively strengthened international cooperation in green energy, continuously enhanced global energy governance capacity, and completed the goals and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan for building a new pattern of international energy cooperation based on openness and mutual benefit. China always regarded ensuring energy security as the fundamental premise of international energy cooperation, deepened power grid interconnection and cooperation with neighboring countries, and effectively enhanced the resilience of the energy systems of BRI participating countries in complex international environments. China built the world’s largest and most complete new energy industry chain, supplying over 80% of the world’s photovoltaic modules and approximately 70% of wind power equipment ^[5]. Furthermore, China established the BRI International Green Development Coalition, implemented the “Green Silk Road Envoy Program,” and has trained over 3,000 green talents for more than 120 BRI participating countries. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China’s direct investment in BRI participating countries exceeded USD 160 billion ^[6], with green energy investment already surpassing traditional energy investment, providing solid support for the green energy transition under the Belt and Road Initiative and demonstrating China’s responsibility and commitment as a major country.

III. Accelerated Transformation of Energy Consumption and Notable Effects in Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction

China unswervingly followed the high-quality development path that prioritizes ecological conservation and green and low-carbon development, strictly controlled total energy consumption and intensity, accelerated clean energy substitution, promoted electrification of end-use energy, continuously reduced the proportion of coal consumption, steadily increased the share of clean energy consumption, further optimized the energy consumption structure, promoted the formation of green production and lifestyles, and achieved coordinated progress between energy consumption and economic development.

(I) Steady Growth in Total Energy Consumption

In 2025, China’s total energy consumption ^[7] reached 6.17 billion tons of standard coal, an increase of 24.2% compared to 2020. With an average annual energy consumption growth rate of 4.4%, it strongly supported economic growth, with an average annual growth rate of 5.4%. By energy source, the consumption of fossil fuels such as coal and oil grew at a moderate pace, with coal consumption growing at an average annual rate of 3.5% and oil consumption at 3.6%. The consumption of clean energy, including natural gas, hydropower, nuclear power, and power generated from new energy sources, grew at a rapid pace, with natural gas consumption growing at an average annual rate of 5.9% and primary electricity and other energy consumption growing at an average annual rate of 10.9%. The elasticity coefficient of energy consumption remained within a reasonable range, achieving a virtuous cycle of stable growth in energy consumption and high-quality economic development.

(II) Clean Energy Substitution at a Faster Pace

China steadfastly applied the new development philosophy, treating clean energy substitution as a key measure for optimizing the energy structure and promoting green and low-carbon transition. Based on the “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” goals, China introduced a series of supporting policies, systematically deploying clean energy substitution efforts. China strengthened policy guidance, institutional guarantees, and technological support, making deeper and more substantive progress with remarkable results in driving the clean energy substitution. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the proportion of non-fossil energy consumption steadily increased, historically surpassing oil to become China’s second-largest energy consumption category, forming a new pattern of energy consumption with coal, oil, gas, and non-fossil energy as the four main pillars. Specifically, the proportion of coal in total energy consumption decreased from 56.7% in 2020 to 51.4% in 2025, a drop of 5.3 percentage points; the proportion of oil decreased from 18.9% to 18.2%, a drop of 0.7 percentage points; the proportion of natural gas increased from 8.4% to 8.7%, a rise of 0.3 percentage points; the proportion of primary electricity and other energy sources increased from 16.0% to 21.7%, a rise of 5.7 percentage points. The target of the 14th Five-Year Plan for non-fossil energy consumption to reach over 20% was successfully achieved, and the “green quotient” in energy consumption continued to rise.

(III) Sustained Increase in Electricity Consumption of the Whole Society

China sustained a steady and robust growth rate in electricity consumption, achieved a leap in total volume, and made continuous progress in optimizing its consumption structure, providing strong support for high-quality economic and social development. In 2025, China’s total electricity consumption ^[8] reached 10.37 trillion kWh, an increase of 37.9% compared to 2020, with an average annual growth rate of 6.6%, which was 0.9 percentage points higher than the average annual growth rate during the 13th Five-Year Planperiod. That in 2021, 2023, and 2025, respectively, exceeded 8 trillion kWh, 9 trillion kWh, and 10 trillion kWh. In 2025, China’s total electricity consumption historically exceeded 10 trillion kWh, a first globally, firmly securing its position as the world’s largest electricity consumer. By sector, benefiting from the continuous advancement of the rural revitalization strategy, China’s electricity consumption in the primary industry continued to grow rapidly, with an average annual growth rate of 11.7% from 2021 to 2025. Its share in 2025 increased by 0.3 percentage points compared to 2020, marking a new stage in agricultural electrification. The secondary industry, as the main electricity consumer, saw an average annual growth of 5.3%, accounting for 64.0% in 2025. Electricity consumption in the tertiary industry grew at an average annual rate of 10.5%, with its share rising from 16.1% in 2020 to 19.2% in 2025. The digitalization of the service sector and the vigorous development of new business forms and models became important engines driving electricity consumption. Residential electricity consumption grew at an average annual rate of 7.7%, accounting for 15.3% in 2025, an increase of 0.8 percentage points from 2020. Factors such as the popularization of green and smart home appliances and the increase in electric vehicle ownership contributed to the rapid growth in residential electricity demand.

IV. Comprehensive Improvement in Energy Efficiency and Continuously Improving Development Quality

China continued to implement actions for energy conservation and carbon reduction, adhering to the development principle of prioritizing conservation and being led by efficiency, integrating energy conservation and carbon reduction throughout the entire process of energy production, processing and conversion, and consumption. Through measures such as technological innovation, industrial upgrading, institutional guarantees, and management optimization, China significantly improved the quality and efficiency of energy development, greatly enhanced energy utilization efficiency, and injected green momentum into high-quality economic and social development.

(I) Continuous Decline in Energy Intensity

From 2021 to 2025, after deducting energy used as raw materials and non-fossil energy consumption, China’s energy consumption per RMB 10,000 of GDP ^[9] cumulatively decreased by 16.1%, with an average annual decrease of 3.0%, exceeding the binding target of a cumulative 13.5% reduction set in the 14th Five-Year Plan, demonstrating China’s remarkable achievements in energy conservation and carbon reduction. All localities strictly implemented energy conservation and carbon reduction policies. Eastern coastal regions, leveraging their industrial and technological advantages, took the lead in achieving energy efficiency improvements, increasing investment in energy-saving technological transformation and innovation input, and promoting green industrial transformation. Central and western regions retrofitted energy efficiency at a faster pace, promoted energy-saving upgrades in high-energy-consuming industries, and continuously improved energy efficiency in key sectors.

(II) Steady Improvement in Energy Processing and Conversion Efficiency

China focused on key links in energy processing and conversion, increased investment in technological transformation and innovation, improved the green technology innovation system, and promoted steady improvement in the processing and conversion efficiency of various energy processing and conversion types, providing strong support for energy conservation and carbon reduction. Compared with 2020, the efficiency of major energy processing and conversion types improved in 2024. Specifically, thermal power generation efficiency increased by 0.5 percentage points, heating efficiency increased by 2.5 percentage points, coking efficiency increased by 0.2 percentage points, oil refining and coal-to-liquids efficiency increased by 0.9 percentage points, gas production efficiency increased by 1.9 percentage points, and natural gas liquefaction efficiency increased by 2.2 percentage points.

(III) Steady Reduction in Energy Consumption per Unit Product

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China continued to take the lead in improving energy efficiency. By setting industry benchmarks and promoting energy-saving technological upgrades and digitalized control, China steadily reduced the energy consumption per unit product in key industries. Specifically, from 2021 to 2025, the comprehensive energy consumption per unit of raw coal production cumulatively decreased by 9.9%, cement by 12.1%, calcium carbide production by 8.4%, synthetic ammonia production by 2.2%, electrolytic aluminum by 3.4%, caustic soda production by 7.9%, flat glass by 3.3%, and coal consumption for thermal power generation by 0.9%. Solid results were achieved in improving energy efficiency in the industrial sector, and industrial greening, low-carbonization, and high efficiency were significantly enhanced, laying a solid foundation for achieving the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.

During the14th Five-Year Plan period, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China’s energy sector achieved breakthroughs and historic accomplishments. The 15th Five-Year Plan period was critical for advancing the green transition across all areas of economic and social development and for achieving the carbon peaking goal. China will set its “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” goals, and improve the mechanism for long-term participation in reducing carbon and pollution, expanding greenery, and promoting growth. On the new journey of building a modern socialist country in an all-round way, with firmer resolve and more pragmatic measures, China will go all out to advance the development of a new energy system during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, and move faster to build itself into an energy powerhouse so as to ensure a solid energy supply for high-quality economic and social development.

Note:

[1] The eight provinces (autonomous regions) with production exceeding 100 million tons refer to Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Shanxi Province, Shaanxi Province, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Guizhou Province, Anhui Province, Henan Province, and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

[2] Source: National Energy Administration.

[3] Source: National Energy Administration.

[4] Source: General Administration of Customs. The net energy import data for 2025 in this article are preliminary customs statistics.

[5] Source: National Development and Reform Commission.

[6] Source: Belt and Road Portal, https://www.yidaiyilu.gov.cn/dataChart.

[7] The 2025 data are preliminary estimates.

[8] Source: China Electricity Council.

[9] Energy consumption per RMB 10,000 of GDP is calculated at 2020 prices.

Translate from: Websit of the National Bureau of Statistics,June 5,2026