China’s wind, solar power expected to reach over 500 gigawatts in capacity this year

ANKARA

China, the world’s largest producer and supplier of renewable energy, is expected to invest to reach 520 gigawatts of wind and solar energy capacity this year, and a total of 4,000 gigawatts of installed electricity capacity by the end of the year, according to the latest data.

China has emerged as a leader in renewable energy, in both production and exports, and solar panel and wind turbine production investments is the driving force behind its leadership position.

China is boosting its investments in domestic energy production after ranking second in oil consumption, right after the US, and consuming as much natural gas as European countries.

The country aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. The China Photovoltaic Industry Association said that the global solar panel production capacity reached 1,388 gigawatts in 2024, with China accounting for 83.3% of it and dominating the sector.

Data from China’s Industry and Information Technology Ministry showed that the country’s panel production reached 558 gigawatts last year, 238 gigawatts of which was exported. The first five months of the year saw 260 gigawatts of capacity go online, which is equivalent to Germany’s total installed capacity.

The installed capacity in China reached 3,348 gigawatts by the end of last year, 886 gigawatts of it in solar energy, 520 gigawatts wind energy, 435 gigawatts hydroelectric energy, 43 gigawatts nuclear energy, and 20 gigawatts from other sources, while thermal power plants made up 1,444 gigawatts.

As of this May, the installed capacity of China rose to 3,609 gigawatts. Thermal power plants ranked first with 1,457 gigawatts, followed by solar power with 1,084 gigawatts, wind power with 567 gigawatts, hydroelectric power with 438 gigawatts, and nuclear power plants with 60.8 gigawatts.

A historic record is expected in wind and solar energy capacity to be commissioned this year, according to the State Grid Energy Research Institute’s China Power Supply and Demand Analysis Report 2025.

The annual new solar energy capacity to be commissioned is 380 gigawatts, with 140 gigawatts for wind. In total, 520 gigawatts of capacity will be added to solar and wind power this year, the report showed.

Some 127 gigawatts will be added from thermal power plants, 13.6 gigawatts from hydroelectric power, and 5.2 gigawatts from nuclear energy, as the country aims to reach a total installed electricity capacity of 3,990 gigawatts by the end of the year, with solar and wind energy making up 48.2% of the total.