China leads global energy capex with $940 billion grid outlay
Beijing redirected capital into transmission lines as domestic coal generation fell to 49.7% of total electricity output in the first half of 2026.
WZBy Wei Zhang, China correspondent, semiconductors··Updated November 8, 2026·3 min read
ShareLinkedInXWhatsAppEmailWorkers stand among large power grid transformers and bundled transmission cables inside an electrical equipment manufacturing plant. (AI-generated image)
China Enterprise Reform and Development Society released an annual assessment on Nov. 8, 2026, projecting national energy investment will reach $940 billion this year, retaining the top global position.
The outlay cements Beijing's pivot from primary power generation to long-distance transmission hardware. China now manufactures 70% of global wind equipment and 80% of solar modules, shifting capital bottlenecks from generation to grid integration.
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China correspondent, semiconductors — Wei Zhang covers Chinese fabs, domestic equipment substitution and the packaging capacity being built to work around import restrictions.
