China’s PV installations are projected to reach 255 GW by 2025, pushing its cumulative installed capacity to 1,000 GW. This growth is expected to increase solar energy’s share of the country’s power generation to 11% by 2030.
China PV Installations 2025: Ambitious Growth Targets
China is on track to increase its annual photovoltaic (PV) installations to 255 GW by 2025, according to a report from the China Photovoltaic Industry Association. This ambitious move will raise the nation’s total cumulative installed capacity to 1,000 GW, underscoring its firm commitment to renewable energy and its leadership in the global solar market.
The pace of this expansion is remarkable. In 2024, China is projected to add between 200 GW and 230 GW of new solar capacity. This momentum is expected to continue, with forecasts indicating installations of 230 GW to 255 GW in 2025, and an impressive 250 GW to 280 GW by 2026. As a result, China’s total installed solar capacity could reach between 1,400 GW and 1,500 GW by the end of 2026, pushing solar energy’s share of the country’s total power generation to 10–11% by 2030.
China PV Installations 2025: Global Impact and Industry Leadership
China’s dominance in the solar sector is undeniable, with the country accounting for 55% to 60% of the global market. As the largest exporter of photovoltaic products, China’s exports were valued at $28.6 billion in the first half of 2025, a 4.3% increase from the previous year.
The growth in solar power installations is staggering: in the first half of 2025 alone, China added 67.34 GW, a 19.7% increase compared to the same period last year. By the end of June 2025, China’s total installed solar capacity had reached 608 GW.
This solar expansion is part of a broader energy trend. In the first half of 2025, China installed 226 GW of new generation capacity across all sources, raising its total power capacity to 2,980 GW. Solar power now represents 20.4% of this total, with other renewables like wind, hydro, and biomass contributing 18.4%, 13.9%, and 1.9%, respectively.
China PV Installations 2025: Role in the Nation’s Energy Mix
Solar power is pivotal to China’s energy strategy, accounting for 6% of the country’s total power generation in the first half of 2025. This is part of a broader national initiative to boost the share of renewable energy, with the country eyeing an 11% contribution from solar power by 2030.
China’s solar industry continues to be a formidable force in the global market. In the first half of 2025, the country exported 95.6 GW of PV modules, a figure that underscores the rising global demand for Chinese solar products.
Underpinning this growth is China’s robust manufacturing sector. In the first half of 2025, China produced 630,000 tons of polysilicon, 241 GW of wafers, 176 GW of solar cells, and 190 GW of modules. These figures represent year-on-year increases of 6%, 13.1%, 12.8%, and 24%, respectively.
The average price of monocrystalline silicon modules in China has also remained stable, ranging from $0.115/W to $0.133/W in the first half of 2025. This price stability is crucial for maintaining the competitiveness of Chinese solar products in the global market.
China’s ambitious PV installation targets and its expanding share in global solar exports underscore its leadership in the renewable energy sector. With continued growth, the China photovoltaic market is well-positioned to maintain its dominance and contribute significantly to the global shift towards clean energy.
