China becomes first country to hit 3GW milestone for utility-scale solar

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

China leapfrogged Germany in June to become the first country in the world to install 3GW of utility-scale solar power, according to the latest data from Wiki-Solar.

Figures from online project tracker Wiki-Solar show that global utility solar added 3.75GW in the first half of 2013 alone, with China contributing more than 1GW of that alone.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

The top 15 nations added 128 new sites but European countries contributed just 14 of those.

The slowdown there has been more than offset not just by China, but also the US, which added even more new capacity than China with 1.36GW.

Wiki-Solar founder Philip Wolfe said globally, utility-scale solar had avoided the setbacks created by various trade disputes: “This is partly because of the large pipeline of projects in progress.

“The 250MW California Valley Solar Ranch was completed in June, and the 0.5GW Topaz project is now reported to have connected over 100 MW,” he said adding that he expected the third-ranked US to also overtake the stagnant German market and join China on the other side of the 3GW threshold in Wiki-Solar’s next report.

Read Next

June 9, 2025
Solar manufacturer Qcells has launched a recycling arm, called EcoRecycle, and a recycling plant in the US state of Georgia.
Premium
June 9, 2025
N-type polysilicon prices have dropped to RMB34,000/ton as the project installation rush ends, putting cost pressure on the industrial chain.
June 9, 2025
Sonnedix has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Renfe to supply 420GWh of renewable energy annually for its commercial operations.
June 9, 2025
Saatvik Solar, a unit of Saatvik Green Energy Limited (SGEL), is building a 4.8GW solar cell and 4GW module manufacturing facility in Ganjam district of Odisha.
June 9, 2025
Growing political headwinds threaten to dent US solar manufacturing and project deployment, despite a strong start to 2025.
June 9, 2025
US residential solar installer Sunnova has laid off more than half of its workforce, while a subsidiary from Delaware filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
June 17, 2025
Napa, USA
Upcoming Webinars
June 30, 2025
10am PST / 6pm BST
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece