Photovoltaic (PV) technologies dominate China's solar industry, with roughly 99% of China's solar power capacity. Chinese PV manufacturing accounts for the vast majority of global PV production.
What are the major solar power technologies currently available in China?
The major solar power technology currently available is the solar PV system, in which sunlight is directly converted into electricity via photovoltaic effect. The PV industry in China entered its period of rapid development during the 21st century because of the significant increase in global demand for PV products.
According to the IEA (2020), China's total national PV installed capacity will reach 1,106 GW in 2030 under the Sustainable Development Scenario (SDS). (8) Following the downscaling method, we estimate city-level PV capacity in 2030.
Does central government influence solar PV development in China?
So far, many studies have been conducted on solar PV developments in China, yet the majority of these focused on the top-down dimension, which is central government policy guidance, whereas the bottom-up dimension in the policy-making process, that is, the influence of PV enterprises and local governments on the central government, is overlooked.
What is the development plan for solar PV in China?
This development plan is basically in accordance with the current status of solar PV application in China as large-scale PV (LS-PV), BIPV & BAPV, and rural electrification constitute the major market of solar PV, as shown in Fig. 1.
Furthermore, the International Energy Agency (IEA) released a roadmap in 2021, forecasting that solar and wind power will contribute approximately 80 % of China's total electricity supply by 2060, with an installed PV capacity exceeding 4 TW, surpassing wind power capacity .
Even in the pursuit of carbon neutrality, China's potential for PV growth remains significant. According to Zhang Xiliang et al.'s research, China's installed solar PV capacity is projected to increase sixteenfold by 2060, reaching an impressive 4 TW .