Global renewable curtailment surge hits China

In the first half of 2026, China rejected 360 terawatt-hours (TWh) of clean power, a 49% increase year-on-year, according to a report by Global Energy Monitor and Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. This curtailment, driven by insufficient transmission infrastructure and contracts guaranteeing coal-fired plant operations, is structural and expected to persist. The China — National Energy Administration reported lower official figures of 8.6% solar and 9.1% wind curtailment, while the report estimates 26.1% of total wind and solar output was rejected. Curtailment is rising globally: Australia curtailed 2.93 TWh (37% increase), Japan 2.35 TWh (34% increase), and India 8.13 TWh of solar in Q2 2026. These curtailments, along with policy changes removing guaranteed fixed prices, have contributed to a 66% drop in new solar installations in China. Analysts from Wood Mackenzie and Draworld Environment Institute note that curtailment undermines project financial viability, shifting investments toward solar-plus-storage. Ember suggests battery storage scale-up, citing Chile's addition of 4 GWh of batteries in 2025 as an effective model.