- ›
- Energy
data-vue-regional-dropdown aria-hidden="true">
China’s solar photovoltaic market has grown dramatically during the last decade. The country has made enormous efforts to expand its solar capacity, which increased from only 4.2 gigawatts in 2012 to over 390 gigawatts in 2022. In that last year, new solar capacity additions reached a record of almost 85 gigawatts. China is by far the leading solar market worldwide, accounting for most of the cumulative solar capacity installed globally, as well as new capacity additions. China’s solar capacity is projected to continue expanding in the next years, with forecast new installations ranging from 413 to 569 gigawatts between 2022 and 2026.
The role of solar in China’s energy mix
Solar energy is the third-largest source of renewable energy in China, after hydropower and wind energy. In 2022, solar accounted for a share of 4.7 percent of the total power generated in the country. Although it is not a large share, solar power generation has grown rapidly in the last few years. In 2015, the share of electricity generated from solar sources was below one percent. Regionally, the province of Zhejiang accounted for the largest solar power capacity of any province or municipality in China in 2022, followed by Qinghai. This last region is also home to the largest solar power plant in the country, the Gonghe Photovoltaic Project, which has a total capacity of 4.2 gigawatts.
Solar PV manufacturing in China
China dominates the solar PV manufacturing landscape, accounting for the largest production shares of photovoltaic components worldwide. In 2021, the Asian country produced roughly 97 percent of silicon wafers, 88 percent of photovoltaic cells, and 82 percent of solar modules. Throughout the last decade, the solar PV chain has moved increasingly out from Europe, the United States, and Japan, to China. Today, China is the most cost-competitive country for the production of solar PV components and is home to the leading companies in the sector. In 2022, China’s photovoltaic module manufacturing capacity reached almost 400 gigawatts, a figure that has tripled in the last five years. In terms of output, solar PV module production in China stood at roughly 290 gigawatts that same year.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Daniel Slotta Research expert covering Greater China 
Key insights
- Solar capacity in China
- 609.5 GW
Detailed statistics
Solar power capacity in China 2012-2023
- Solar electricity generation in China
- 584 TWh
Detailed statistics
Annual electricity generation from solar power in China 2013-2023
- Solar asset finance investments in China
- 74bn USD
Detailed statistics
Solar energy asset finance in China 2017-2021
Get more insights
Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic
Further recommended statistics
Overview
7
- Premium Statistic Global cumulative installed solar PV capacity 2000-2022
- Basic Statistic Global cumulative solar PV capacity 2022, by select country
- Basic Statistic Global solar PV capacity installations 2022
- Premium Statistic Global solar panel demand share 2021, by country or region
- Premium Statistic Breakdown of renewable energy capacity in China 2021, by source
- Premium Statistic Renewable power production share in China 2000-2022, by source
- Premium Statistic Solar energy asset finance in China 2017-2021
Overview
- Premium Statistic Global cumulative installed solar PV capacity 2000-2022
Global cumulative installed solar PV capacity 2000-2022
Cumulative installed solar PV capacity worldwide from 2000 to 2022 (in megawatts)
- Basic Statistic Global cumulative solar PV capacity 2022, by select country
Global cumulative solar PV capacity 2022, by select country
Cumulative solar photovoltaic capacity globally as of 2022, by select country (in gigawatts)
- Basic Statistic Global solar PV capacity installations 2022
Global solar PV capacity installations 2022
Leading countries based on new solar photovoltaic capacity additions in 2022 (in gigawatts)
- Premium Statistic Global solar panel demand share 2021, by country or region
Global solar panel demand share 2021, by country or region
Solar panel demand share worldwide in 2021, by country or region
- Premium Statistic Breakdown of renewable energy capacity in China 2021, by source
Breakdown of renewable energy capacity in China 2021, by source
Distribution of renewable power capacity in China in 2021, by source
- Premium Statistic Renewable power production share in China 2000-2022, by source
Renewable power production share in China 2000-2022, by source
Electricity generation share from renewable energy in China from 2000 to 2022, by source
- Premium Statistic Solar energy asset finance in China 2017-2021
Solar energy asset finance in China 2017-2021
Solar energy asset finance investments in China from 2017 to 2021 (in billion U.S. dollars)
Capacity
4
- Premium Statistic Solar power capacity in China 2012-2023
- Premium Statistic Newly installed solar power capacity China 2015-2022
- Basic Statistic Solar power capacity installed in China by province 2024
- Premium Statistic Largest operating solar PV farms in China 2023, by capacity
Capacity
- Premium Statistic Solar power capacity in China 2012-2023
Solar power capacity in China 2012-2023
Cumulative installed solar power capacity in China from 2012 to 2023 (in gigawatts)
- Premium Statistic Newly installed solar power capacity China 2015-2022
Newly installed solar power capacity China 2015-2022
Newly installed solar power capacity in China from 2015 to 2022 (in gigawatts)
- Basic Statistic Solar power capacity installed in China by province 2024
Solar power capacity installed in China by province 2024
Capacity of operational solar power farms in China as of June 2024, by province/municipality (in megawatts)
- Premium Statistic Largest operating solar PV farms in China 2023, by capacity
Largest operating solar PV farms in China 2023, by capacity
Capacity of the largest solar photovoltaic plants in China as of April 2023 (in megawatts)
Generation
3
- Premium Statistic Annual electricity generation from solar power in China 2013-2023
- Premium Statistic Share of solar PV in electricity production in China 2010-2022
- Basic Statistic Monthly solar PV power generated in China 2024
Generation
- Premium Statistic Annual electricity generation from solar power in China 2013-2023
Annual electricity generation from solar power in China 2013-2023
Annual power generation from solar power in China from 2013 to 2023 (in terawatt hours)
- Premium Statistic Share of solar PV in electricity production in China 2010-2022
Share of solar PV in electricity production in China 2010-2022
Share of electricity generated from solar photovoltaics in China from 2010 to 2022
- Basic Statistic Monthly solar PV power generated in China 2024
Monthly solar PV power generated in China 2024
Solar photovoltaic energy generated in China from January 2021 to May 2024 (in terawatt hours)
Solar PV industry
6
- Premium Statistic Share of solar PV components production over global production China 2021
- Premium Statistic Production capacity of solar PV components in China 2021-2024
- Premium Statistic Solar PV module production capacity in China 2018-2022
- Premium Statistic Solar PV module production output in China 2018-2022
- Premium Statistic Solar PV export volume in China 2021-2022, by component
- Premium Statistic Solar PV export revenue in China 2018-2022
Solar PV industry
- Premium Statistic Share of solar PV components production over global production China 2021
Share of solar PV components production over global production China 2021
Share of production of solar PV components in China over the total production worldwide in 2021
- Premium Statistic Production capacity of solar PV components in China 2021-2024
Production capacity of solar PV components in China 2021-2024
Manufacturing capacity of solar photovoltaic equipment in China in 2021 and 2024, by component (in gigawatts)
- Premium Statistic Solar PV module production capacity in China 2018-2022
Solar PV module production capacity in China 2018-2022
Manufacturing capacity of solar photovoltaic modules in China from 2018 to 2022 (in gigawatts)
- Premium Statistic Solar PV module production output in China 2018-2022
Solar PV module production output in China 2018-2022
Production of solar photovoltaic modules in China from 2018 to 2022 (in gigawatts)
- Premium Statistic Solar PV export volume in China 2021-2022, by component
Solar PV export volume in China 2021-2022, by component
Export volume of solar photovoltaic equipment in China in 2021 and 2022, by component (in gigawatts)
- Premium Statistic Solar PV export revenue in China 2018-2022
Solar PV export revenue in China 2018-2022
Export revenue of solar photovoltaic equipment in China from 2018 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)
Companies
4
- Premium Statistic Major solar PV wafer manufacturers in China 2022, by production capacity
- Premium Statistic Major solar PV cell manufacturers in China 2021, by production capacity
- Premium Statistic Major solar PV module manufacturers in China 2021, by production capacity
- Premium Statistic Major solar PV thin-film module manufacturers in China 2022, by production capacity
Companies
- Premium Statistic Major solar PV wafer manufacturers in China 2022, by production capacity
Major solar PV wafer manufacturers in China 2022, by production capacity
Wafer production capacity of the leading solar PV manufacturers in China as of June 2022 (in gigawatts)
- Premium Statistic Major solar PV cell manufacturers in China 2021, by production capacity
Major solar PV cell manufacturers in China 2021, by production capacity
Production capacity of the leading solar PV cell manufacturers in China in 2021 (in megawatts)
- Premium Statistic Major solar PV module manufacturers in China 2021, by production capacity
Major solar PV module manufacturers in China 2021, by production capacity
Production capacity of the leading solar PV module manufacturers in China in 2021 (in megawatts)
- Premium Statistic Major solar PV thin-film module manufacturers in China 2022, by production capacity
Major solar PV thin-film module manufacturers in China 2022, by production capacity
Production capacity of the leading solar PV thin-film module manufacturers in China in 2022 (in megawatts)
Outlook
3
- Premium Statistic Solar energy capacity targets in China 2021-2027
- Basic Statistic Prospective solar power capacity additions in China by province 2024
- Premium Statistic Global new solar PV capacity forecast by select country 2023-2027
Outlook
- Premium Statistic Solar energy capacity targets in China 2021-2027
Solar energy capacity targets in China 2021-2027
Cumulative solar power capacity targets in China from 2021 to 2027 (in gigawatts)
- Basic Statistic Prospective solar power capacity additions in China by province 2024
Prospective solar power capacity additions in China by province 2024
Capacity of solar power farms proposed and under construction in China as of June 2024, by province/municipality (in megawatts)
- Premium Statistic Global new solar PV capacity forecast by select country 2023-2027
Global new solar PV capacity forecast by select country 2023-2027
Projected new installations of solar PV capacity worldwide between 2023 and 2027, by select country (in gigawatts)
Get the best reports to understand your industry
Contact
Get in touch with us. We are happy to help.
Meredith Alda
Sales Manager– Contact (United States)
support@statista.com
Tel
+1 914 619-5895
Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm (EST)
Yolanda Mega
Operations Manager– Contact (Asia)
asia.support@statista.com
Tel
+65 6995 6959
Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm (SGT)
Kisara Mizuno
Senior Business Development Manager– Contact (Asia)
asia.support@statista.com
Mon - Fri, 10:00am - 6:00pm (JST)
Lodovica Biagi
Director of Operations– Contact (Europe)
eu.support@statista.com
Tel
+44 (0)20 8189 7000
Mon - Fri, 9:30am - 5pm (GMT)
Carolina Dulin
Group Director - LATAM– Contact (Latin America)
latam@statista.com
Tel
+1 212 419-5774
Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm (EST)
Yes, let me download!
...and make my research life easier.
Menu
