China sets 2014 solar target at 13 GW

Aug 6, 2014 - China's central energy authority has set a goal of 13 GW for 2014 solar capacity additions in the country, Xinhua news agency said today.

Previously, the government planned for the country to install 10 GW of fresh solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity every year between 2013 and 2015. Later, media reports said that the target for 2014 could be increased to 12 GW as China was seeking to back domestic solar panel makers that are facing lower demand from overseas clients. Also, 14 GW was mentioned at different times as a possible target.

In today’s report, Xinhua quoted the head of the National Energy Administration (NEA) Wu Xinxiong as saying that distributed PV schemes will be top priority in this year's plan. He added that the agency plans to introduce a plan of measures to support the segment and advised local governments in the country to encourage the development of distributed solar projects.

China's initial PV capacity target for the 12th five-year plan between 2011 and 2015 was 5 GW, which was later raised to 10 GW and then to 15 GW. In the summer of 2012, the government boosted it to 21 GW and in mid-2013 it was lifted once again to 35 GW.

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