1. China Market: 277 GW of New Utility‑Scale PV Leads the World

In 2024, China added 277 GW of new utility‑scale PV capacity – more than double the total cumulative utility‑scale PV capacity in the United States (121 GW) by the end of 2024. By the end of the year, China‘s cumulative utility‑scale PV capacity had surpassed 880 GW.

Project pipeline: China currently has more than 720 GW of solar projects at various stages of development, including approximately 250 GW under construction, nearly 300 GW in advanced preparation, and 177 GW announced.

Iconic project: Kubuqi Desert “PV Great Wall” – Planned capacity of about 100 GW, covering an area more than 250 miles long and about 3 miles wide, with completion expected by 2030. Two components of this project – the northern and southern Kubuqi Desert bases – are planned for 7 GW and 6 GW respectively, both currently in the advanced preparation stage.

2. Key Large‑Scale Project Commissions

2.1 Mengxi Blue Ocean 3 GW PV Plant, Inner Mongolia (November 2024)

The Mengxi Blue Ocean PV power station, constructed by China Energy Investment Corporation (CHN Energy) on a large‑scale coal mining subsidence area, was officially connected to the grid on 5 November 2024. The project represents a total investment of RMB 12 billion and consists of 5.9 million PV modules.

Annual generation: 5.7 TWh, sufficient to power 2 million households

Environmental benefits: Saves 1.71 million tonnes of standard coal and reduces CO₂ emissions by approximately 4.7 million tonnes annually

Agricultural integration: Modules are elevated to allow grazing of livestock beneath them, while various crops are planted as forage

Technical innovations: Uses a new rare‑earth alloy grounding material, reducing costs by 40%; steel replaces concrete for module foundations, minimising impact on grassland ecology

2.2 Dongying 1 GW Offshore PV Project, Shandong (First units connected November 2024)

CHN Energy constructed the world‘s first gigawatt‑scale offshore PV project off the coast of Dongying, Shandong Province. The first units were connected to the grid on 13 November 2024.

Annual generation: 1.78 TWh

Technology: Large‑scale offshore steel truss fixed pile foundation construction technology; the project comprises 2,934 PV platforms

Fishery integration: Includes supporting fish farms with an expected annual revenue of RMB 27 million

2.3 Yantai 400 MW Offshore PV Project, Shandong (August 2024)

Guohua Investment completed China‘s first large‑scale offshore solar park in Laizhou Bay. The project has an AC capacity of 400 MW and a DC capacity of 539.3 MWp.

Module technology: Seapower series heterojunction (HJT) modules with 210 mm large‑format cells, double‑glass coating, UV‑resistant encapsulation film, and butyl rubber edge sealing

Environmental adaptability: Specially designed for marine conditions – high humidity, salt corrosion and UV radiation

3. US Market: Accelerating PV‑Storage Integration

3.1 TotalEnergies 1.2 GW PV‑Storage Project, Texas (2024)

TotalEnergies announced a 1.2 GW utility‑scale PV plant paired with a substantial battery energy storage system (BESS) in Texas. The project is part of the company’s strategy to develop dispatchable renewable energy assets that can supply reliable power to the grid even after sunset. Details of commercial operation were disclosed in late 2024, reinforcing Texas’ position as a leading utility‑scale solar market with a strong co‑located storage component.