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Solar Power Generation in China - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

IBISWorld IBISWorld Beijing, China Last Updated: November 2024 4419b

Revenue

$40.2bn

2024

$40.2bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xbn

Employees

60,577

Businesses

1,140

Wages

$X.Xbn

Solar Power Generation in China industry analysis

Under the background of global energy transforming from traditional energy to renewable energy, the Government in China has been issuing industry assistance policies to promote fast development of solar power generation. The Solar Power Generation industry in China has grown significantly over the past five years. Industry revenue is expected to increase at an annualized 18.5% over the five years through 2024, to $40.2 billion. This trend includes anticipated revenue growth of 23.3% in 2024. The installed capacity of solar power generation has been increasing rapidly, with share of solar power installed capacity accounting for total power generation installed capacity growing from 9.2% in 2018 to an estimated 23.7% in 2024. In 2024, China's cumulative solar power output is expected to increase to 418.3 billion kilowatt hours, an increase of 42.3% from 2023. The industry profit is anticipated to reach 33.4% in 2024.
Rising household demand for electricity in China has led to several power supply shortages over the past few years, stimulating demand for solar power generation. Additionally, a reliance on imported oil and gas resources for power and increasing environmental consciousness have led to a strong government focus on developing renewable energy sources, particularly solar power.
In 2024, China's solar power industry will face both opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, under the guidance of the dual carbon goal, the development of China's solar energy industry will receive stable policy support and drive the overall improvement and upgrading of the industrial chain. On the other hand, the large-scale development of new energy needs the support of new power system, and the policy system and terminal application mode need to be innovated.
Due to technological advances and the industry expanding in scale, solar power is becoming an essential renewable energy source, along with hydroelectric and wind power. This trend is anticipated to boost industry demand over the next five years. Industry revenue is forecast to grow at an annualized 18.5% over the five years through 2029, to $94.0 billion.

Trends and Insights

  • The Government has been promoting fast development of solar power generation. Both the installed capacity and power generation output have grown fast.
  • Photovoltaic power is the largest product segment for the industry. Photovoltaic power includes centralized photovoltaic power and distributed photovoltaic power, jointly accounting for an estimated 99.0% of total industry revenue in 2024.
  • Shandong and Jiangsu have larger share of distributed photovoltaic power. The install capacity of solar power generation in Shandong and Jiangsu is expected to make up 8.9% and 7.0% of national totals, respectively, in 2024.
  • The industry concentration level is low. The top four enterprises are expected to account for an estimated 21.8% of total industry revenue in 2024.

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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 18.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $40.2bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The Government has been promoting fast development of solar power generation

  • Under the background of global energy transforming from traditional energy to renewable energy, the Government in China has been issuing industry assistance policies to promote fast development of solar power generation.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Solar Power Generation in China
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Continuous increases in electricity demand in China will support industry growth

  • As China's economy shifts from a “high-speed development stage” to a “high-quality development stage” in the future, the rapid development of emerging industries represented by high-tech equipment manufacturing, information transmission and internet services in the context of economic restructuring and upgrading will continue to promote the growth of electricity demand.

Biggest companies in the Solar Power Generation in China

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
State Power Investment Corporation
3,966.3
China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd.
2,203.4
Huadian New Energy Group Corporation Limited
1,322.1

To view the market share and analysis for all 10 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Solar Power Generation in China
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Centralized photovoltaic power, Distributed photovoltaic power and Solar thermal power. Centralized photovoltaic power is the largest segment of the Solar Power Generation in China.

Trends and Insights

Centralized photovoltaic power stations usually have a large installed capacity

  • Centralized photovoltaic power refers to power generation through the installation of large-scale solar panels composed of photovoltaic cells and the generated electricity needs to be transmitted to users through the power grid. In 2024, centralized photovoltaic power is expected to account for 56.1% of total industry revenue.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Solar Power Generation industry in China generates power by solar energy. The industry includes photovoltaic (PV) power generation and solar thermal power generation. Solar power generation usually refers to PV power generation, which uses solar cells to directly convert solar energy into electric energy.

What's included in this industry?

Centralized photovoltaic powerDistributed photovoltaic powerSolar thermal power

Companies

State Power Investment CorporationChina Huaneng Group Co., Ltd.Huadian New Energy Group Corporation Limited

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Related Terms

PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) POWER GENERATIONGIGAWATTSOLAR THERMAL POWER GENERATION

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The Government has been promoting fast development of solar power generation. Both the installed capacity and power generation output have grown fast.

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Photovoltaic power is the largest product segment for the industry. Photovoltaic power includes centralized photovoltaic power and distributed photovoltaic power, jointly acc...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Shandong and Jiangsu have larger share of distributed photovoltaic power. The install capacity of solar power generation in Shandong and Jiangsu is expected to make up 8.9% a...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The industry concentration level is low. The top four enterprises are expected to account for an estimated 21.8% of total industry revenue in 2024.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Stated-owned companies dominate the solar power generation market. State-owned capital dominates the industry to guarantee the stable power supply and power safety.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of State Power Investment Corporation's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Huadian New Energy Group Corporation Limited's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 7 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for State Power Investment Corporation, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Huadian New Energy Group Corporation Limited, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 7 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The Government in China guides the industry development. The Government in China has been issuing industry assistance policies to support the development of the Solar Power G...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The industry profitability has increased over the past five years. Decreasing equipment purchasing prices and growing electricity consumption contribute to increasing profita...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Solar Power Generation industry in China in 2024?

The market size of the Solar Power Generation industry in China is $40.2bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Solar Power Generation in China industry in 2024?

There are 1,140 businesses in the Solar Power Generation industry in China, which has grown at a CAGR of 9.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Solar Power Generation industry in China grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Solar Power Generation industry in China has been growing at a CAGR of 18.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Solar Power Generation industry in China over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Solar Power Generation industry in China is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Solar Power Generation market in China?

The biggest companies operating in the Solar Power Generation market in China are State Power Investment Corporation, China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd. and Huadian New Energy Group Corporation Limited

What does the Solar Power Generation in China include?

Centralized photovoltaic power and Distributed photovoltaic power are part of the Solar Power Generation industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Solar Power Generation in China?

The company holding the most market share in China is State Power Investment Corporation.

How competitive is the Solar Power Generation industry in China?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Solar Power Generation industry in China.

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Complementors

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Methodology

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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in China include:

  • National Bureau of Statistics China
  • General Administration of Customs
  • People’s Bank of China

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

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