IEA PVPS has released the latest National Survey Report of PV Power Applications in China 2024, prepared by Task 1 with data from the National Energy Administration (NEA) and the China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA). The report provides a comprehensive overview of PV market development, policy frameworks, industrial trends, and technological progress in China during 2024.
In 2024, China added 277.57 GWAC of new PV capacity – a 28% increase compared with the previous year’s record growth. This brought total installed PV capacity to 886 GWAC , with utility-scale systems accounting for 57% of new installations (159.39 GWAC ) and distributed PV for 43% (118.18 GWAC ). Within the distributed segment, commercial and industrial systems rose by 68% to 88.63 GWAC , while residential installations declined by 32% to 29.55 GWAC .
China’s PV power generation reached 834.1 TWh, a 44% year-on-year increase, representing 8% of total electricity consumption and achieving a national utilisation rate of 96.8%.
China’s policy framework in 2024-2025 was marked by a shift toward market-based mechanisms and high-quality development in the renewable energy sector:
· Over 50% of new renewable energy generation was integrated through market-based electricity trading, according to the National Energy Administration.
· Green Electricity Certificates expanded rapidly, with 4.734 billion certificates issued in 2024, a 28-fold year-on-year increase, and a total of 59 000 participating entities.
· The Management Measures for Distributed PV Power Generation Development and Construction, issued by the National Energy Administration in January 2025, standardised project classification, registration, grid connection, and safety requirements, reinforcing grid-friendly and data-driven deployment.
· The Direct Green Power Connection policy, issued in May 2025, allowed renewable generators to sell electricity directly to users via dedicated lines, promoting local consumption and decarbonisation.
Technological innovation continued to strengthen China’s position in the global PV industry. As of March 2025, China held efficiency records for nine solar cell types, the highest number ever recorded in NREL’s Best Research-Cell Efficiency Chart. Among the notable achievements were:
· 34.6% efficiency for a perovskite/silicon tandem cell developed by LONGi Green Energy
· 27.3% efficiency for a monocrystalline back-contact heterojunction (HBC) cell by LONGi
· 23.3% efficiency for a polysilicon (DS wafer) cell by Jinko Solar
These milestones underscore the strong R&D capacity of China’s PV industry and its growing contribution to global technological progress.
