Page 39 - A Comprehensive Guide to Solar Energy Systems

Chapter 2 • Solar Power Development in China 33

Table 2.8 Conversion Efficiency Standards by Module Type
2015 PV Pioneer/(%) a General PV/(%)
Poly-Si >16.5 ≥15.5
Mono-Si >17 ≥16
HCPV >30 ≥28
Silicon based >12 ≥8
CIGS >13 ≥11
CdTe >13 ≥11
Other thin film >12 ≥10
a Technical standards for the Pioneer Program projects approved by NEA in 2015.
Source: Author’s compilation on NEA, et al. Opinions on promoting application of PV products with advanced technologies and
industrial upgrading (no. 194). NEA, MIIT, Certification & Accreditation Administration; 2015 [21].

2.4.3.2 Other Programs
Other special supporting programs for PV include the Micro-Grid pilot program and the
PV poverty alleviation program.
The Micro-Grid Demonstration program aims to establish 30–50 microgrid demon-
stration projects (including off-grid and on-grid projects) over the next 3–5 years These
projects will be used to test the operation feasibility of the local power systems to integrate
the generation, transmission, distribution, and storage of the PV energy systems, taking
into account the high ratio of renewable power.
PV Poverty Alleviation Program was initially launched in October 2014, jointly by NEA
and the Poverty relieve Office of the State Council, providing financial support to PV proj-
ects in poor areas. The 13th version of five-year plan for solar energy expanded the size of
the program to 15 GW (distributed PV 5 GW and ground-mounted system 10 GW) by the
end of 2020 [22]. The program is expected to benefit 3 million poor households by raising
their average annual income to a level of over 3000 yuan by 2020. By implementing the
program, the capacity increment would account for 20% of total solar PV increment over
the period of 2015–20.

2.5 Conclusions

Benefiting from FiT incentives and various direct financial subsides, China’s solar energy
has developed remarkably well within a few years. The PV industry currently dominates
the solar energy development in China. Excluding hydropower, PV power is second only to
the wind power in terms of renewable capacity. Domestic installed capacity of PV systems
is now 2.3 times the nuclear power capacity and has approached 5% of the national total
generation capacity. China not only has the world’s largest PV manufacturing capacity but
also the largest PV market. In that sense, one can expect that by the year 2020, a cumulative
capacity in excess of 150 GW is possible.
Despite NEA making it clear that the priority of PV power in the future will be distrib-
uted PV, there are difficulties such as project location and financing issues, both of which