China plans to invest $940 billion in energy this year
According to Chinese state media, the focus is shifting from new capacity to electricity grids and infrastructure.
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China is expected to invest $940 billion in energy in 2026, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reports, citing a new report. That would make China the world’s largest energy investor, according to the source.
The figure comes from the China Enterprise Reform and Development Society’s Global Energy Transition Report 2026. The Edge Malaysia writes that CCTV cited the report on Sunday. It is a forecast for the whole of 2026, not a definitive account of money already spent.
According to the same Chinese report, China had 2.337 billion kilowatts of installed renewable capacity at the end of 2025. That represented 60.1 per cent of the country’s total electricity capacity and 63.6 per cent of all new renewable capacity worldwide, CCTV said.
According to the figures, renewable sources generated 3.99 trillion kilowatt-hours, or 38.3 per cent of China’s electricity production. The additional generation from renewable sources would, according to the report, have been sufficient to cover growth in electricity consumption. These figures come from Chinese state media and have not been independently scrutinised in the available reporting.
According to the report, investment is shifting from simply building new generation capacity rapidly towards grids and other infrastructure to integrate variable wind and solar power. The Edge refers to a forecast by the International Energy Agency that China will spend about $140 billion on its electricity grid in 2026.
The Chinese government set out a broader five-year ambition in June: more than 20 trillion yuan for major energy projects and new energy companies during 2026-2030, according to Xinhua. That underlines the scale of the plans, but does not prove that every announced sum will be realised. For European companies, the development may be relevant because of demand for grid technology, storage and equipment, while growing Chinese production could also increase competitive pressure on wind and solar manufacturers.
Also show the region and a close-up
Both sides of the figures
▲ Bright spots
- According to the Chinese report, renewable sources accounted for 38.3 per cent of electricity production. It is unclear whether this share also applies to 2026.
- The announced investments could increase demand for grids, storage and energy infrastructure; the IEA expects about $140 billion in Chinese grid investment in 2026.
▼ Concerns
- The $940 billion forecast comes from a Chinese report reported via state broadcaster CCTV and represents an expectation, not an established expenditure.
- Large investments could strengthen Chinese producers’ position on the world market, increasing competitive pressure on European companies.
Critical note
The $940 billion figure is an expectation, not realised expenditure. The total alone does not show how the investment is divided between public and private parties, or between fossil-fuel and renewable projects. The figure alone therefore does not show what proportion directly contributes to decarbonisation.
Who notices what
- Businesses
- Suppliers of grids, storage, turbines and solar panels could benefit from Chinese demand, while European producers may face greater competition.
- Government
- The scale of Chinese investment could have implications for European industrial, trade and energy policy.
- Investors
- The forecast points to growth opportunities in grid infrastructure and storage, but source reliability and implementation risks remain areas of concern.
Every point comes from the article’s sources and was included in the fact check.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- CCTV reports, based on a Chinese report, an expected $940 billion energy investment in 2026.
- China reports strong growth in renewable capacity and generation.
- The Chinese government has cited an energy investment ambition of more than 20 trillion yuan for 2026-2030.
- The available figures have not been fully independently verified.
Left
Arguments The investment could accelerate the shift to renewable energy, but credible climate policy also requires attention to working conditions, local impacts and the remaining role of coal.
Values Climate protection, public oversight, and a fair distribution of costs and benefits.
Consequences Faster decarbonisation could deliver climate gains, while insufficient transparency or continued fossil-fuel capacity could limit them.
Centre
Arguments The scale of the investment could improve security of supply and grid capacity. At the same time, verifiable figures and market access are needed to determine how many projects are actually carried out.
Values Reliability, deliverability and institutional oversight.
Consequences A pragmatic combination of grid expansion, storage and renewable generation could make the energy transition more stable, but requires long-term financing.
Right
Arguments China is using large-scale state investment to strengthen strategic industries and export positions. European countries must avoid becoming dependent on Chinese technology while keeping their own companies competitive.
Values National resilience, economic independence and competitiveness.
Consequences Greater diversification of supply chains may increase costs, but reduce geopolitical and industrial risks.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The text explicitly attributes the current forecast to CCTV and a Chinese report, and distinguishes between an expectation and realised investment. The figures on capacity, generation and grid investment appear in the sources used; the independence of the Chinese reporting remains limited.
- confirmed China expects to invest $940 billion in energy in 2026. — Reported by The Edge Malaysia, based on CCTV and the Global Energy Transition Report 2026. source
- confirmed At the end of 2025, China had 2.337 billion kilowatts of installed renewable capacity. — CCTV figures as presented by The Edge Malaysia. source
- confirmed Renewable sources accounted for 38.3 per cent of China’s electricity production. — CCTV figures as presented by The Edge Malaysia. source
- confirmed The International Energy Agency expects about $140 billion in Chinese grid investment in 2026. — Cited by The Edge Malaysia. source
- confirmed China is targeting more than 20 trillion yuan in energy investment during 2026-2030. — Xinhua quotes the head of China’s National Energy Administration. source
Editor's note
The $940 billion figure is a Chinese forecast reported via CCTV; no independent audit of the report has been found. The broader five-year ambition was previously reported by Xinhua and a Chinese energy authority.Sources
More on this in Dutch media
- NRC — „china energie”
- NOS — „china energie”
- Het Parool — „china energie”