China wasted enough clean energy to power Mexico for one year in early 2026. Reports estimate the country rejected 360 terawatt-hours of wind and solar power. A terawatt-hour equals one trillion watt-hours of electricity. Power networks were full. Australia, Japan, and India also wasted clean energy for the same reason. When networks reach their limit, they must reject renewable power. This happens even though the power is ready.
The problem is getting worse each year. In China, rejected clean power jumped 49% compared to last year. Supply contracts guarantee new coal plants can keep running. This protects their capacity. Without better networks and more battery storage, countries will continue using fossil fuels. They will not use the clean power they produce.