China Deploys 105 GW New Solar Capacity In 4M 2025

China installed 104.93 GW of solar from January to April 2025, surpassing the 100 GW milestone 2 months earlier than in 2024, when the mark was reached in the first half, according to the latest data released by the country’s National Energy Administration (NEA).  

Last year, China exceeded 100 GW of new solar PV capacity in H1 2024, with an increase of 24.06 GW over 78.42 GW the country reported for H1 2023 (see China Exceeds 100 GW Solar Installations Mark In H1 2024).

This year, the 104.93 GW installed during 4M 2025 represents an increase of 44.83 GW over 60.1 GW the country reported for the same period last year. 

It includes the 45.2 GW installed in the month of April alone this year, which can be attributed to the rush to complete projects before the June 1, 2025 deadline when China brings in market-oriented power reforms. It will see the country moving away from its very successful feed-in-tariff (FiT) model to a contracts for difference (CfD) based mechanism for wind and solar power plants (see World’s Biggest Solar Market Moving Towards CfD Mechanism).

With the April 2025 additions, China’s aggregate installed solar power generation capacity has reached 990 GW, with a 47.7% year-on-year (YoY) increase.

The China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA) has forecast between 215 GW and 255 GW of new PV capacity additions for 2025, after growing by 277 GW in 2024. It lists insufficient grid capacity and the market-oriented power pricing system as the reasons for this expected slowdown. 

With over 100 GW already installed before the end of second quarter, it remains to be seen where the year-end total will land (see China’s Solar PV Market To Slow Down To Around 255 GW In 2025).