China has once again shattered global renewable energy records, adding 93 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity and 26 GW of wind capacity in May 2025 alone. The solar installations, equivalent to nearly 100 panels per second, and wind deployments, averaging one turbine every 10 minutes, underscore the country's unprecedented pace of clean energy expansion. Lauri Myllyvirta, a senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, highlighted that the new capacity could generate electricity equivalent to the combined output of countries like Poland, Sweden, and Norway or U.S. states such as North Carolina and Maryland.

From January to May 2025, China's solar installations surged to 198 GW, a 388% increase compared to the same period in 2024, while wind capacity grew by 46 GW. The National Energy Administration (NEA) reported that cumulative solar capacity now stands at 1.08 terawatts, representing half of the world's total installed solar capacity. This milestone coincides with China's first-ever decline in carbon emissions in May 2025, despite rising energy demand, signaling a potential peak in emissions ahead of its 2030 target.

The rapid growth is attributed to strong profitability and a rush to meet a June deadline for tariff adjustments. However, analysts anticipate a slowdown in installations for the remainder of 2025. Myllyvirta noted that while the pace may ease, the sheer scale of recent additions ensures continued growth in clean energy generation. The shift also marks a historic turning point, with solar and wind investments surpassing coal for the first time in China.