China's solar expansion to slow down after 2024 peak, agency says
China's expansion of solar energy systems is set to slow down for the first time in six years, the China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA) said at a conference on Thursday.
The CPIA said it expects an increase of between 215 gigawatts and 255 gigawatts in output this year. Last year, China installed 277.57 gigawatts of new solar cell capacity, surpassing the record set in 2023 of 216.3 gigawatts.
China is the world leader in solar expansion, far exceeding countries like Germany, which added around 16 gigawatts to its capacity in 2024, according to its main infrastructure authority, the Federal Network Agency.
However, the Chinese solar industry suffered setbacks last year, with oversupply causing manufacturers to incur losses, while countries such as the United States imposed high tariffs on cheap solar cells to protect their domestic companies.
Experts attribute the slowdown in part to a new price model, which is causing uncertainty among manufacturers and investors. From June 1, market forces are to determine the prices producers receive for their electricity from renewable energies.
The association expects an increase in new installations again from 2026.
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