In the context of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, the integration of renewable energy and coal-fired power generation could improve the efficiency of renewable energy utilization, reduce the corresponding cost and also facilitate the green and low-carbon upgrading of coal-fired power generation. The integration and complementation of renewable energy and coal-fired power generation were reviewed from three aspects: integration form, operation regulation and the evaluation criteria. Firstly, the integration forms and working principles of solar thermal energy and biomass that can be directly coupled with coal-fired power generation were sorted out. Secondly, the current research on the dynamic characteristics and regulation laws of solar-thermal coupled coal-fired power generation were introduced. The improvement methods of slagging and corrosion in the operation of biomass coupled coal-fired power generation were summarized, the regulation strategies and optimal configuration of wind power and photovoltaic for coordinated operation with coal-fired power generation were outlined. Finally, the research progresses on the evaluation of the thermal performance, economy and comprehensive performance of the solar-coal complementary system were reviewed. The research progresses on the comprehensive performance evaluation of the coupled biomass and coal-fired power generation and the evaluation of the biomass power generation capacity in the system were introduced. The quantitative evaluation of the stability and flexibility of the coordinated operation of wind power, photovoltaic and coal-fired power generation and the construction of the comprehensive performance evaluation index system were outlined. Considering the current status of integration of renewable energy and coal-fired power generation, the integration of solar aided coal-fired power generation should be devoted to the study of deep peak regulation and more flexible system operation of the integrated system. Beyond the research on the mitigation of combustion problems brought by the coupling of biomass, the integration of biomass and coal power generation should focus on the evaluation of biomass power generation in the whole system. The coordinated operation of photovoltaic, wind power and coal-fired power generation should be further studied in addition to the scheduling planning, and the study of the internal responsibility sharing and benefit distribution mechanism of the wind and fire projects should be further carried out, so as to realize the synergistic and sustainable development among different types of power sources.