China’s solar PV capacity journey from 2010 to 2025 spans a dramatic range — from a barely measurable 0.9 GW to a world-leading 680 GW, redefining global renewable energy dynamics. By the end of the period, China’s share of cumulative world capacity had climbed from just 2.3% to 36.8%, according to data compiled by IRENA, IEA, and the National Energy Administration.
Top of the chart: 2025
In 2025, China installed an estimated 680 GW of solar photovoltaic capacity, making it the largest national fleet globally. The world total that year reached 1,850 GW, with the rest of the world holding 1,170 GW. China’s share edged to 36.8%, slightly below the 2023 peak of 37.4%, as other countries like India and the United States accelerated their own installations.
The other end: 2010
Back in 2010, China had only 0.9 GW of solar PV capacity — a mere 2.3% of the global 40 GW. The rest of the world, led by Germany and other early movers, accounted for 39.1 GW. The numbers reflect a Chinese solar industry still in its infancy, with policy support just beginning to take shape.
What separates the two
The 15-year gap is a story of aggressive industrial policy, plummeting module costs, and massive grid investment. China’s domestic manufacturing scale helped push down panel prices worldwide, which in turn fuelled record installation rates at home and abroad. From 2015 onwards, China added an average of 45 GW each year, while the rest of the world added around 60 GW — a gap that narrowed considerably in 2024 and 2025.
- 2025: 680 GW
- 2024: 580 GW
- 2023: 493 GW
- 2022: 392.6 GW
- 2021: 306.6 GW
While China’s absolute capacity continues to dominate, its share of the world total stabilised near 37% from 2022 onward as installations in India, the European Union, and the United States began to match the pace of Chinese additions. The 2010–2025 trajectory remains one of the most dramatic energy transformations on record.
Source: IRENA, IEA, National Energy Administration of China · 2026-06-26T09:05:25.909Z
