The number of coal plants is not relevant. It is how much coal they use that is relevant. Their massive and continuing renewable expansion along with massive storage expansion is bringing that down.
reply> The number of coal plants is not relevant. It is how much coal they use that is relevant.
replyThe majority of the electricity they actually generate is from coal.
That's true, for now. But the actual amount they generate fell in 2025 and is projected to fall in 2026. Every other source grew that year, including Solar by 300 TWh (yes, China is crazy big, 300 TWh increase in solar and even in summer that was still only third biggest share)
replyMy guess is that China sees strength in diversity. More solar yes, and more wind, more nuclear, even more hydro, to the extent that's possible. This has been what they were doing for a decade, but they're now deploying enough that it outpaces their system demand reducing the use of coal.