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China Adds 50GW of Renewable Energy in Early 2025, Continues Grid Expansion
Mar 22, 2025
China has installed 50 GW of renewable energy—wind and solar—in the first two months of 2025, outpacing the annual capacity additions of the U.S., EU, and India. While this reflects a seasonal slowdown following the record-breaking 103 GW installed in December 2024, it still marks a 4% year-over-year increase.
Meanwhile, thermal capacity expanded by 3.6 GW (coal and gas), but its utilization dropped, with thermal power generation down 5.8% YoY and average plant operations running at just 47.1?pacity in February. This suggests new thermal plants are increasingly used for grid balancing as China ramps up Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
China also saw a 34% YoY increase in grid investment, highlighting its commitment to expanding infrastructure for renewable energy integration.
On the generation front, overall electricity demand fell by 1.3% YoY (excluding small-scale solar). However, renewable sources saw significant growth:
- Solar: 27.4% YoY
- Wind: 10.4% YoY
- Nuclear: 7.7% YoY
- Hydro: 4.5% YoY
With continued renewables expansion and declining thermal generation, China is reinforcing its clean energy leadership while investing in a flexible, modernized grid.