China’s solar power capacity expanded at a record pace in 2024. According to the National Energy Administration of China, the country’s utility-scale solar capacity reached over 880 gigawatts (GW), making it the largest in the world. In 2024 alone, China installed 277 GW of utility-scale solar power, which is more than double the 121 GW installed in the United States by the end of the same year.
China’s rapid expansion is expected to continue, with more than 720 GW of solar projects currently in various stages of development. This includes about 250 GW under construction, nearly 300 GW in the pre-construction phase, and 177 GW in the announced stage. These figures are based on data from the Global Solar Power Tracker by Global Energy Monitor.
Some of the biggest solar projects are located in northern China’s Inner Mongolia region. One of the most ambitious developments is the Great Solar Wall project. It is planned to be completed by 2030 and will have a total capacity of around 100 GW. The project will stretch across more than 250 miles in length and 3 miles in width, covering areas in Inner Mongolia and nearby regions.
Two parts of the Great Solar Wall, known as the Inner Mongolia Kubuqi Desert North and South Megabase, are in pre-construction and are expected to have capacities of 7 GW and 6 GW respectively.
Other major projects that are still in the announced phase include the Ordos Desert Control solar farm and the Xinjiang-Sichuan Power Export solar farms. Each of these is expected to have a planned capacity of 8.5 GW. These massive projects reflect China’s continued commitment to expanding its solar energy capacity and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
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