The Chinese solar energy capacity has surpassed 1 tw, which marks a historic milestone while the country speeds up its energy transition. About 92 GW of new PV systems were installed in China alone in May, but analysts warn that the pace can delay in the second half of the year.
The cumulative installed solar capacity of China has surpassed 1 TW, according to the National Energy Administration (NEA). By the end of May 2025, the solar capacity had reached 1.08 TW (1,080 GW), an increase of 56.9% year after year.
NEA -data show that the total power generation capacity at the end of May at 3.61 TW was an increase of 18.8% compared to a year earlier. Solar was the fastest growing segment, powered by record installations in the first five months of 2025.
From January to May, new solar installations amounted to 197.85 GW, an increase of 388.03% compared to the same period last year. In May alone, China added 92.92 GW new capacity, an increase of 105.48% compared to April and the highest monthly figure ever.
Analysts attribute the Golf to favorable government policy, including support for distributed solar and mechanisms that make renewable energy possible to participate in the trade with electricity market. These measures caused a hurry to complete installations prior to the expected policy changes in the second half of the year.
China reached his first 1 GW of installed solar energy in 2010 under the Golden Sun program, which launched the distributed solar segment of the country. After trading tensions with the United States and Europe in 2011–12, Beijing shifted to domestic support, which stimulates projects on utility scale in the northwest and pushing the cumulative capacity up to 10 GW by mid -2013.
The Top-Runner program later encouraged implementation by promoting technological innovation and efficiency. By June 2017, the total installed capacity was 100 GW – a ten -time increase in four years. Eight years later, China reached 1 TW from installed solar energy – an unparalleled global milestone.
However, analysts warn that the question could slow down in the second half of 2025 as the policy -driven wave illuminates. Various market research agencies have issued careful predictions, stating a likely decrease in the installation momentum.
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