(ECNS) -- New energy has become the largest electricity source in South China's Guangdong, Yunnan, Guizhou, Hainan Provinces and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, according to data released by China Southern Power Grid on Thursday.

The data indicates that the total installed capacity of new energy in those regions has reached 145 million kilowatts, accounting for 32 percent of the total, surpassing coal-fired power for the first time and becoming the largest source of electricity.

From 2021 to 2023, new energy accounted for 63 percent of the newly added power capacity in the five southern provinces and regions. In the first quarter of this year, the newly added capacity of new energy reached 12.54 million kilowatts, representing a year-on-year growth of 72 percent.

Since the beginning of 2024, electricity generation from new energy in the five southern provinces and regions has reached 65.3 billion kilowatt-hours, a year-on-year increase of 67 percent.

The maximum daily electricity generation from new energy has reached a historical high six times, with the highest daily electricity generation penetration rate reaching 31.12 percent, equivalent to at least 1 kilowatt-hour from new energy for every 4 kilowatt-hours used.