Key facts
- Inner Mongolia is China's largest base for both renewable energy and coal production.
- The region is rapidly expanding wind and solar capacity, with installations doubling in five years.
- Despite renewable growth, coal-fired power generation is also increasing to meet demand and ensure grid stability.
- Coal plants in Inner Mongolia produced approximately 590 billion kilowatt-hours in 2025, while renewables generated about 277 billion kilowatt-hours.
- Inner Mongolia mines about 1.2 billion tons of coal annually, representing a quarter of China's total production.
Inner Mongolia, a region known for its nomadic heritage, is at the forefront of China's complex energy transition, balancing rapid expansion of renewable energy sources with continued reliance on coal. The Dalad Banner solar farm, featuring over 3 million panels arranged in the shape of a galloping horse, exemplifies the region's commitment to solar power. However, this is juxtaposed with nearby coal-fired power plants that supply electricity to Beijing, highlighting an 'all-of-the-above' energy strategy.
Experts describe Inner Mongolia's situation as paradoxical, where increased renewable capacity often correlates with increased coal capacity. While China aims to move away from coal, Inner Mongolia remains a significant coal producer. The region's wind and solar capacity has more than doubled in the past five years, yet coal-fired plants still dominate electricity generation. In 2025, coal plants produced approximately 590 billion kilowatt-hours in Inner Mongolia, compared to about 277 billion kilowatt-hours from solar and wind combined.
Inner Mongolia plays a crucial role in China's 'West-to-East Power Transmission Project,' sending substantial amounts of electricity to industrialized eastern regions. Officials acknowledge the intermittent nature of renewables necessitates the support of coal-fired power, which is increasingly serving a supporting and regulating role rather than primary supply. The region mines around 1.2 billion tons of coal annually, a quarter of China's total, with a significant portion transported to other provinces.