China added 311 GW of solar and 119 GW of wind power capacity in 2025, according to data released by the National Energy Administration (NEA). These additions were the highest on record.

In all, China installed an additional 543 GW of new energy capacity from both conventional and renewable sources during the year, a 16.1% year-over-year (YoY) increase. Coal and gas-based power capacity rose by 93 GW. The total installed capacity from all sources was 3,890 GW at the end of 2025.

Cumulative solar capacity reached 1,200 GW, up 35.4% YoY, and wind 640 GW, rising 22.9% YoY. The two sources combined overtook thermal power capacity (1,500 GW) by over 300 GW.

Renewables continued to drive power capacity additions, highlighting China’s energy transition efforts. Solar and wind now account for 47.3% of the country’s total power mix.

The total installed hydropower capacity reached approximately 450 GW at the end of 2025. Nuclear power accounted for 63 GW.

Solar buildout rebounded during the second half of 2025, with China adding 12.6 GW of solar power capacity in October alone, after dipping to almost a three-year low in August. This is also a clear step up from September’s 9.66 GW.

China’s solar capacity additions in 2025 surpassed industry forecasts. In March last year, the China Photovoltaic Industry Association had estimated that solar installations would drop by up to 22% after the introduction of market-based pricing reforms. It had put the figure between 215 GW and 255 GW, down from 277 GW in 2024. The country had earlier relied on a feed-in tariff regime to ramp up renewable energy capacity.

In September 2025, China announced new Nationally Determined Contributions targets for 2035, aiming to expand its installed wind and solar capacity to 3.6 TW. The new targets for wind and solar capacities are over six times their 2020 targets.