China unveils solar power industry strategy

(ADPnews) - Dec 6, 2010 - The Chinese government disclosed last Thursday a strategy for promoting the generation of solar power-based electricity across the country via several photovoltaic (PV) pilot projects.

The initiative is backed up by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the National Energy Administration.

A total of 13 development zones have been recognised as the first demonstration projects for the solar power strategy. The country's vice minister of finance, Zhang Shaochun noted that the effect of the existing demonstration projects, which was put into operation in 2009 and 2010, would be further exploited so that the application would reach at least 1 GW annually since 2012.

The Chinese government will support the demonstration projects with a 50% subsidy to be granted to the equipment suppliers, which will win the bidding. An additional subsidy of CNY 4 per watt and CNY 6 per watt will be given depending on different projects.

One of the planned projects is a 20 MW rooftop installation to be located in Yizhuang, Beijing. The project is estimated at CNY 460 million (USD 69m/EUR 52m).

China, known as the world’s largest polluter, has been lately taking an advance from the progress in technology, industrial system, market potential and policy framework. The country's PV industry is ready for the launch of a full-fledged application.

(CNY 1.0 = USD 0.150/EUR 0.112)

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