A new report underscores just how large a role China is playing in the global buildout of energy infrastructure this year.
China is expected to invest roughly $940 billion in energy in 2026, the most of any country in the world, according to the Global Energy Transition Report 2026, released by the China Enterprise Reform and Development Society and reported by state broadcaster CCTV. The figure spans the full range of energy investment, from power generation and grid infrastructure to the renewable energy and battery supply chains that have become a centerpiece of China's industrial strategy over the past decade.
China's scale in energy investment has been building for years. The country is already the world's largest manufacturer of solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles, and it has continued to expand both renewable and conventional power capacity simultaneously to keep pace with rising electricity demand from manufacturing, data centers, and a growing EV fleet. The new figure suggests that pace is not slowing, even as China's broader economy has faced more mixed growth signals in other sectors this year.
For global markets, the scale of China's energy investment matters well beyond its own borders. It shapes the price and availability of everything from solar panels to battery materials worldwide, and it influences how quickly clean energy technology costs continue to fall for buyers in other countries. It also factors into the broader competitive picture between major economies over who leads the industries that will define the next phase of the energy transition.
Further detail on sector-by-sector breakdowns of the $940 billion figure is expected as the full Global Energy Transition Report 2026 is released.
Does this figure include both renewable and fossil fuel investment?
The reported total covers energy investment broadly, spanning generation, grid infrastructure, and related supply chains, rather than renewables alone.
Who produced this report?
The Global Energy Transition Report 2026 was released by the China Enterprise Reform and Development Society and reported by China Central Television.