China’s new grid capacity likely to exceed solar demand

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Forecasts expect in the region of 40-45GW of new solar to come forward in China in 2020.

China could accommodate nearly 50GW of new solar PV capacity this year, new analysis has revealed.

Analysis from China’s National New Energy Absorption Monitoring and Early Warning Center, issued earlier this week, confirmed that the country’s vast power grid would be able to incorporate some 48.45GW of new solar installations this year.

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 theoretical maximum would be split between just over 39GW on grids operated by the State Grid Corporation of China, an additional 7.4GW of solar within Southern Power Grid Corporation’s operational area, and a further 2GW of new capacity allowed within the operating area of Inner Mongolia Electric Power Company.

The province with the most capacity for new solar is Shandong, which has room for some 4.4GW of new solar installs, followed by Jiangsu (3.25GW) and Qinghai (3GW).

With the capacity for an additional 48.45GW of new solar installs this year, China is unlikely to encounter any issues around curtailment. Most forecasts have placed new solar project completions in China this year in the 40-45GW range, having installed around 30GW last year.

Deployment of solar has indeed slowed in China in recent years. Last year’s 30.11GW contrasted against the 43.4GW installed in 2018 and 53GW 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

May 1, 2025
CSI Solar, the PV manufacturing subsidiary of Canadian Solar, has posted massively decreased profits in Q1 2025 amid what it described as “high trade barriers” and “severe supply-demand imbalances”.
May 1, 2025
The ESMC has called for a restriction of remote access to PV inverters in Europe from ‘high-risk’ manufacturers, mainly those in China.
April 30, 2025
Almaden has announced plans to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary in the United Arab Emirates, via its existing subsidiary Almaden (MENA).
April 30, 2025
Daqo New Energy has posted gross losses of US$81.5 million, and a gross margin of -65.8% in the first quarter of 2025.
April 29, 2025
Chinese solar manufacturing giant JinkoSolar posted net losses of US$181.7 million in the first quarter of 2025 amid low product prices and “changes in international trade policies.”
Premium
April 28, 2025
Carrie Xiao assesses the impact of Chinese policy changes as developers rush to complete projects before rules change and module prices go up.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
May 7, 2025
Munich, Germany
Solar Media Events
May 21, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
June 17, 2025
Napa, USA
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK