BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. China’s solar power
capacity experienced significant growth in 2025, with solar energy
accounting for 53.2% of the country’s total renewable energy
generation, underscoring its dominant position in the national
clean energy mix.
Data obtained by Trend from the International Renewable Energy Agency
(IRENA) shows that China’s solar capacity reached 1.2 terawatts
(TW) in 2025, marking a 35.5% increase compared to 2024.
The sector has seen a notable acceleration in recent years, with
growth rates surging to 55.2% in 2023 and 45.5% in 2024, far
outpacing the expansion observed between 2020 and 2022.
The following figures show the total solar energy generation in
China:
|
The surge in China’s solar power generation from 2023 to 2025
can be attributed to record capacity additions, rapidly falling
technology costs, and accelerated project deployment. According to
international energy agencies, China dominated global solar
installations during this period, with annual additions reaching
unprecedented levels and substantially expanding the country's
installed base. A large portion of this growth stemmed from the
completion of delayed projects, which had been postponed due to
pandemic-related disruptions and supply chain challenges in earlier
years.
At the same time, the continued decline in solar photovoltaic
(PV) costs, fueled by China’s highly integrated manufacturing chain
and large-scale production capacity, made solar energy increasingly
competitive with conventional power sources. Policy reforms, such
as the "whole-county" distributed solar initiative, which promotes
market-driven pricing and competitive allocation of renewable
projects, further enhanced investment efficiency and expedited
project deployment.
Solar energy expanded at a faster pace than wind power, owing to
structural advantages in deployment speed and scalability. Solar
projects generally require shorter construction periods and face
fewer permitting challenges than wind farms, especially offshore
installations. Additionally, the accelerated decline in PV
equipment costs, coupled with slower wind project development in
certain regions, reinforced solar’s dominant role in China’s
renewable energy expansion between 2023 and 2025.
