China to install 4 GW of solar PV in H2 2012 - IMS Research

Jul 16, 2012 - China is to add 4 GW of photovoltaic (PV) power capacity in the second half of 2012, including 1 GW under the Golden Sun subsidy scheme for small-scale projects, IMS Research says in a new market study.

The market intelligence firm, which was recently acquired by IHS (NYSE: IHS), commented that the recent decision of the Chinese government to boost to 21 GW its solar capacity target by 2015 would further stimulate the sector's growth. Creating additional market for solar products is crucial for the domestic solar manufacturing industry at present as all global solar product makers, including these in China, are now struggling with severe overcapacity and plunging selling prices. IMS said that only China's capacity to produce crystalline silicon modules hit 32.6 GW in the first quarter of 2012, while global demand for the year is seen at 30.6 GW.

According to the market report, medium and large commercial rooftop PV installations in China will arrive at 850 MW this year. Senior PV market analyst and report author Frank Xie said that in 2012 China's solar sector will see the addition of a more diverse range of system types, "largely driven by China approving 1.7 GW of projects under the Golden Sun Scheme".

IMS added that despite the positive demand outlook, the prices of polysilicon, wafers, cells and modules would keep falling.

Under the Golden Sun programme, the government provides subsidies to cover part of a solar project's costs for installations of no more than 300 kW. These subsidies are available only for solar power installations whose developers use the output to cover their own needs.

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