China’s total installed power generation capacity reached 3.61 billion kilowatts as of the end of May, an 18.8% increase year-on-year, according to power industry data released on June 23 by the National Energy Administration (NEA).
Source: People’s Daily
China’s total installed power generation capacity reached 3.61 billion kilowatts as of the end of May, an 18.8% increase year-on-year, according to power industry data released on June 23 by the National Energy Administration (NEA). The figures highlight two notable increases and one significant decline.
— Solar power hits a historic 1-billion-kilowatt milestone. China’s solar power sector has maintained strong growth momentum in 2024. From January to May, newly installed solar capacity approached 200 million kilowatts, up 57% year-on-year. This surge pushed the country’s cumulative installed solar capacity past the symbolic 1-billion-kilowatt mark, reaching 1.08 billion kilowatts—equivalent to the capacity of about 48 Three Gorges Dams. Solar now accounts for 30% of China’s total power generation capacity and nearly half of the global total.
An NEA official noted that this capacity milestone reflects not only the scale of China’s clean energy transition, but also the rise of a comprehensive and globally competitive solar supply chain. China is home to more than one million solar-related enterprises, with annual industry output exceeding 1 trillion yuan. The country leads globally across the value chain—from domestically controlled production of high-purity polysilicon, to breakthroughs in large-format silicon wafers and high-efficiency solar cells, to record-setting module efficiency and the integrated deployment of smart inverters and energy storage systems.
— Thermal power’s share drops to around 40%. As of May, China’s installed thermal power capacity stood at approximately 1.46 billion kilowatts, reducing its share of total generation capacity to around 40%.
Earlier this year, the National Development and Reform Commission and the NEA jointly issued the Implementation Plan for Upgrading the New Generation of Coal Power Units (2025–2027). The plan calls for pilot coal-fired units to reduce carbon emissions per kilowatt-hour by 10% to 20% compared to similar units operating in 2024, through the adoption of carbon-reduction technologies.
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