Elon Musk:
"Solar power in China will exceed ALL sources of electricity combined in the USA in 3 to 4 years. Wake up call."
According to studies, China also relies on coal.
The exact percentage of coal used for manufacturing in China in 2025 is unclear due to limited data. In 2024, industry, including manufacturing, consumed about 21% of China's coal, per Enerdata. Coal remains critical for manufacturing, especially steel and cement, due to its stable energy supply, unlike solar. China started 94.5 GW of coal plants in 2024, roughly two per week, showing heavy reliance. Projections suggest coal use peaks at 4.37 billion metric tons in 2025, but sector-specific breakdowns are lacking.