Will China become a center of solar PV production?

The last decade has seen the rise of China as the new center of solar photovoltaic power manufacture, and the next will likely see it become a center of its deployment. The chapter explores the conditions that have enabled China's rapid expansion into solar PV manufacture, and its broad impact on global competition.

Why did China promote the solar PV industry?

The solar PV industry (as well as wind power) was supported and promoted with the explicit aim to create a leader in the global renewable energy market and to export equipment made in China to the promising solar markets in Europe and in USA. China’s government wanted to take its export-oriented, “factory of the world” economy to the next level.

Is China a leader in solar energy technology?

Over the past 20 years China has emerged as the world leader in solar energy technology. At the end of 2019, China’s total installed capacity of solar PV power made up 204 GW of energy.

How did China become a leader in solar power supply chain?

Government investment into solar panel producers, subsidies, and access to government bank credit helped Chinese solar companies such as Longi, Suntech, Trinasolar, and more develop into leaders of the global solar market. Collectively, they control at least 60% of global capacity for every step in the solar power supply chain.

Does China have a solar industry?

Based on the history, we found that China’s domestic market lagged to China’s solar manufacturing industry. The industry grew quickly in the international solar energy market, especially after the Germany EGG in 2004.

How much will China invest in solar PV?

The latter revealed plans to invest approximately €8b and 250,000 tons of industrial silicon a year and 200,000 tons of polysilicon a year in August of the same year. Traditionally, the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and the Greater Shanghai Area were considered the heartland of China’s solar PV manufacturing.