China added 110.83 GW AC of solar capacity in 9M 2026, down 54% YoY, according to the NEA
September installations rose 41.2% YoY and 23.6% MoM to 13.64 GW AC
China’s total solar capacity reached 1.32 TW AC by September 2026
China’s solar PV market continued to lose momentum in the first nine months (9M) of 2026, with new installations plunging 54% year-on-year (YoY) to 110.83 GW AC, according to data published by the country’s National Energy Administration (NEA).
In comparison, the country added 240.27 GW AC in 9M 2025, increasing 79.39 GW AC on a YoY basis, thanks to over 92 GW AC installed in May ahead of the feed-in tariff (FIT) deadline (see China’s Solar PV Capacity Surpasses 240 GW In 9M 2025).
Nevertheless, September 2026 additions rebounded from a year earlier (9.66 GW AC) by 41.2% YoY and 23.6% month-on-month (MoM) (11.04 GW AC) to 13.64 GW AC.
Even if China adds an average of 12 GW AC of new solar installations per month in the fourth quarter, installations would reach under 150 GW AC, falling short of the China Photovoltaic Industry Association’s (CPIA) forecast of 180 GW AC to 240 GW AC for the year (see CPIA: China Solar Installations To Dip In 2026 Before Resuming Growth).
A drop in Chinese installations will also affect global numbers. SolarPower Europe expects 2026 to see the first decline in annual solar installations in over two decades owing to an expected 24% YoY decline in the China market (see Global Solar PV Installs Hit 664 GW In 2025; 8% Drop Ahead).
By the end of September 2026, China’s total installed solar PV capacity had reached 1.32 TW AC, up 16.5% YoY, while wind energy capacity rose 20.4% to 700 GW AC. Combined, solar and wind capacity exceeded 2 TW AC, out of the country's total installed power generation capacity of 4.13 TW AC.
The Chinese government targets to grow the combined capacity of solar and wind to 3.6 TW AC by 2035 (see China Announces 3.6 TW AC Solar & Wind Target For 2035).
