China solar installations projected to decline 29% in 2026

China is experiencing a significant slowdown in solar capacity installations. BloombergNEF projects that China's solar installations will decline by 29% in 2026, falling to 271 GW from 383 GW in 2025. Through the first half of 2026, China installed approximately 71.8 GW of photovoltaic capacity, a roughly 66% decrease compared to the same period in 2025.

Analysts attribute this decline to market saturation and a shift in policy toward energy storage rather than capacity expansion. The slowdown in China is part of a broader global trend, with BloombergNEF forecasting a 10.8% decline in total global solar installations for 2026, reaching 584 GW.

While domestic demand in China has weakened, the export of solar products remains robust. The export value rose by 24.3% year-on-year, driven by international demand for solar cells and wafers. The China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA) views 2026 as a temporary contraction year, expecting the market to recover and grow toward 864 GW annually by 2030.