On June 23, China’s National Energy Administration released power industry statistics for January to May.
By the end of May, China’s total installed power generation capacity reached 3.61 billion kW, up 18.8% year-on-year. Among this, solar power capacity reached 1.08 billion kW, a 56.9% increase year-on-year, while wind power capacity totaled 570 million kW, up 23.1%.
From January to May, the average utilization of power generation equipment nationwide was 1,249 hours, 132 hours lower than the same period last year. Major power enterprises completed RMB 257.8 billion in power generation project investments, up 0.4% year-on-year, while grid construction investment reached RMB 204 billion, an increase of 19.8%.
During the same period, China added 197.85 GW of new solar PV capacity, marking a year-on-year growth of 149.97%. In May alone, newly installed capacity surged to 92.92 GW, a staggering 388.03% increase compared to the previous year.
Driven by the impact of the new "531 policy," China's solar PV market saw explosive growth in the first half of 2025, breaking multiple records. The January–May installation alone reached 197.85 GW, with May contributing an astounding 92.92 GW — accounting for over one-third of the total new capacity in 2024. This milestone also pushed China’s cumulative PV installed capacity past 1 TW for the first time.
However, after setting these new records, the solar sector is expected to enter a new historical phase. Starting in June, PV installations are likely to decline due to new grid connection policies and market-based electricity pricing. In the short term, these factors may dampen growth, but over the long run, China’s PV industry is expected to evolve toward more refined and high-quality development.
Source：https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/XSyAbqO_2quZvBgqpCtGJg