China extends distributed solar target to 20GW by 2015

Oct 21, 2013 - John Parnell - PV-tech.org

China has extended its distributed solar capacity target to 20GW by 2015.

Wu Xinxiong, head of the National Energy Administration said during a recent speech that the country would look to build on the 2GW already installed.

As much as 6GW of distributed PV could be installed during 2014 as the government presses ahead with its plans, according to a copy of the talk seen by PV Tech China.

It is thought the focus of the develoments, which would generate power for local users, will be around Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing.

The country has a 35GW target for all solar installation by 2015. There is no suggestion that that figure will be lifted meaning that the majority of the country’s installed solar by then would be from distributed sources.

The government is building up a stock of demonstration distributed solar projects and is offering RMB0.42/kWh to incentivise their construction.

The speech also refers to a financial partnership with the National Development Bank of China to support the development of distributed PV.

Analysts NPD solarbuzz expect China to top global PV installation rankings in 2013.