China
power plants.
China has 21,363 operating power plants in the catalog, 3,045,518 MW in all. The catalog also marks 189 plants as Retired, with 50,430 MW of capacity. Its operating fleet leans on coal, which accounts for 40.6% of operating capacity (1,236,390 MW), with solar a distant second at 20.2%. The largest operating plant in the catalog is Three Gorges Dam Hydroelectric Plant (22,500 MW, recorded start year 2012).
Source: Global Energy Monitor, Global Integrated Power Tracker, March 2026 release II. Catalog content date: .
Source: Global Energy Monitor, Global Integrated Power Tracker, March 2026 release II. Catalog content date: .
China electricity mix
Operating installed capacity by fuel. Each row gives megawatts and its share of the operating total.
Source: Global Energy Monitor, Global Integrated Power Tracker, March 2026 release II. Catalog content date: .
Largest plants in China
Source: Global Energy Monitor, Global Integrated Power Tracker, March 2026 release II. Catalog content date: .
Newest plants in China
This table includes 10 of the 17 operating plants with a recorded start year of 2026, largest first. The catalog records years, not full commissioning dates.
Source: Global Energy Monitor, Global Integrated Power Tracker, March 2026 release II. Catalog content date: .
Frequently asked questions
Where does China get its electricity?
Across the 21,363 operating plants in the catalog, China's capacity is led by coal at 40.6% (1,236,390 MW), then solar at 20.2% and wind at 17.8%. These are installed-capacity shares, not live generation.
What is the largest power plant in China?
The largest operating plant in the catalog for China is Three Gorges Dam Hydroelectric Plant, a hydro facility with 22,500 MW of capacity and a recorded start year of 2012.
How many power plants does China have?
The catalog tracks 21,363 operating power plants in China, with 3,045,518 MW in all. It also marks 189 plants as Retired, with 50,430 MW of capacity.
Can I see China's power grid on a map?
Yes. Open nrgmap at app.nrgmap.com and search China to fly to it. Every tracked plant is a marker sized by capacity and coloured by fuel, with the national fuel mix in the side panel.