China becomes first country to reach 1 TW of installed solar power

China has become the first country in the world to surpass 1 TW of installed solar power capacity, according to data released by the state agency NEA (National Energy Administration). The milestone was reached less than two years after the country reached 500 GW, surpassing projections that estimated this feat would only happen in 2026.

The growth of photovoltaic installations in China was almost 60% in one year – driven by incentive policies, cost reductions and the dominance of the local industry, which accounts for more than 80% of the global manufacture of solar equipment, including photovoltaic panels.

The Asian country – in addition to having the largest solar generating park in the world – is also the absolute leader in all links in the sector's supply chain, especially in the production of photovoltaic panels. 

To give you an idea of ​​the scale, the world reached the 2 TW mark of installed solar capacity at the end of 2024, according to the Global Solar Council (GSC) — that is, half of this power is concentrated in China alone. In the global comparison, the United States appears in second place, with 175 GW, and Brazil occupies sixth position, with almost 58 GW of operational capacity.

NEA data also indicate that, until May of this year, the installed capacity of wind power in China reached 570 GW – a growth of 23,1% compared to the same period in 2024. Currently, the country also has global leadership in terms of scale in the sources hydroelectric and biomass, in addition to having the largest portfolio of nuclear plants under construction.

It took solar energy 70 years to reach 1 TW and only two to double it

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