Starting from a base of 100 MW of solar capacity in 2009, China has seen consistent increases in annual deployments, reaching its 1st TW level cumulatively halfway through 2025. At the end of May 2025, its total PV capacity stood at 1.08 TW, as per the NEA. (Source: National Energy Administration, China/IEA; Graphic: TaiyangNews) 
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China Solar Installations: From 100 MW In 2009 To 1 TW In 2025

The world’s largest solar market races past the historic milestone of 1 TW

Anu Bhambhani

  • China surpassed 1.08 TW of cumulative solar PV capacity at the end of May 2025

  • Close to 198 GW was installed within January and May 2025, driven by the pre-reform installation rush

  • Annual additions may ease from June onward, with the CPIA projecting between 215 GW and 255 GW of deployments this year

China has become the world’s 1st country to surpass 1 TW of cumulative solar PV capacity, marking a historic milestone in just the 17th year after it began scaling up solar installations, with only 100 MW reported in 2009. One can safely assume that the next TW won’t take this long.

China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) counts the country’s cumulative installed solar power generation capacity to have reached 1.08 TW as of May 31, 2025, with an annual increase of 56.9%.

Within the initial 5 months of 2025, China has already installed close to 200 GW of new PV installations, thanks to the installation rush before June 1, 2025 deadline. (Photo Credit: TaiyangNews)

This includes 197.85 GW it installed between January and May 2025, a year-on-year (YoY) increase of 118.7 GW over the previous year’s 79.15 GW (see China Installed Close To 80 GW New PV In 5M/2024).  

This massive jump during the initial 5M of 2025 reflects the rush to install projects before the country’s new market-oriented power reforms came into force on June 1, 2025 (see World’s Biggest Solar Market Moving Towards CfD Mechanism).  

The pace of new deployments is expected to slow down during H2 2025. The China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA) projects the country to install between 215 GW and 255 GW this year, after installing a record of over 277 GW last year (see China’s Solar PV Market To Slow Down To Around 255 GW In 2025).