China’s PV installations 22% higher in first quarter 2018

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Utility-scale installed capacity declined 64% to only 1.95GW in the first quarter of 2018.

China installed a total of 9.65GW of solar PV capacity in the first quarter of 2018, a 22% increase over the prior year period, according to China’s National Energy Administration (NEA).

The official breakdown of installations included 7.68GW of distributed solar capacity, which increased by 217%, compared to the prior year period. 
In contrast, utility-scale installed capacity declined 64% to only 1.95GW in the first quarter of 2018, compared to the prior year period.
 
Asia Europe Clean Energy (Solar) Advisory Co, (AECEA), which issued a statement on the NEA released figures at a NEA press conference on April 24, had previously forecasted around 7.5GW of installations in China in the first quarter of 2018. 

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

AECEA also noted that further improvements had been made on grid curtailment issues, notably in the autonomous region of Xinjiang and province of Gansu, where the curtailment levels had been above 20% throughout 2017. 

The decline in utility-scale installations had already worked through to some of the publically listed companies, heavily dependent on the utility-scale sector, such as ‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member, GCL System Integrated, which had warned of losses for the first quarter of 2018, due to a decrease in the demand.

In contrast major PV Inverter manufacturer Sungrow Power Supply had announced that it expected its first quarter 2018 financial results to include a net profit increase of between 50 to 70%, compared to the prior year period. This is due to its broad product portfolio that covers utility-scale and DG market.

AECEA said that despite the increase in Q1 2018 installations it still expects full-year total installations in China to reach in the range of 40GW to 45GW, down from NEA figures of 53.5GW in 2017.

.

10 March 2026
Frankfurt, Germany
The conference will gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing out to 2030 and beyond.

Read Next

July 8, 2025
The Chinese government has moved to curb excessive competition in the PV sector and stabilise pricing as companies report growing losses.
July 8, 2025
Bulgarian-headquartered solar engineering company Sunotec has acquired 100% of the project company, SIA DSE Lazas Solar, from Danish Sun Energy. 
July 8, 2025
SJVN Green Energy has commenced commercial operations of 100.02MW from its 1,000MW solar power project in Bikaner, Rajasthan.
Premium
July 8, 2025
In the latest NEM data spotlight, solar generation in Australia reached its yearly lowest month, while rooftop solar prices spiked to AU$225.57/MWh.
July 7, 2025
Chinese energy giant China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation, also known as Sinopec, has commenced operations at a 7.5MW offshore floating PV plant in China.
July 4, 2025
Chinese PV provider Skycorp Solar Group has announced a solar plant acquisition and development strategy following unanimous board approval.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 22, 2025
Bilbao, Spain
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK