China Nears New Solar PV Record In 2025 With 275 GW Installed In 11 Months

China is on track to surpass its previous solar photovoltaic (PV) installation record as it added nearly 275 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity between January and November 2025. This performance puts the country on course to exceed the 277 GW installed in 2024, highlighting the continued growth of China’s solar market despite a slowdown in the middle of the year.

Data released by China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) shows that by the end of November, the country had installed 274.89 GW of solar PV capacity in alternating current (AC) terms. This represents a significant increase of 68.59 GW compared to the 206.30 GW installed during the same period in 2024.

The surge earlier in the year was driven by a rush to claim feed-in-tariff (FIT) incentives, with over 92 GW installed in May 2025. However, the introduction of a contracts-for-difference (CfD) auction system from June 2025 led to a sharp slowdown in monthly installations. Capacity additions dropped to 14.36 GW in June, 11.04 GW in July, and hit a record low of 7.36 GW in August.

From September onward, installations began to recover, reaching 9.66 GW in September and 12.6 GW in October. November saw the highest monthly capacity addition in the last six months, with 22.02 GW installed. While this was a 12% decline compared to November 2024, it marked a 74% improvement over October, showing signs of a market rebound.

By the end of November 2025, China’s total cumulative solar PV capacity reached 1.16 terawatts (TW), reflecting an annual increase of 41.9%. Analysts from S&P Global Energy expect China to finish 2025 with a record-high capacity of around 287 GW, though this is below some forecasts, including the 270–300 GW range projected by the China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA).

Looking ahead, annual solar additions in China are expected to fall to about 218 GW in 2026. Policy changes both in China and the United States are likely to reduce global solar installations for 2025. Despite this, China’s performance demonstrates its ongoing leadership in the global solar market and the country’s commitment to expanding renewable energy capacity.