Solar power in China

China has over 400 photovoltaic (PV) companies and produces approximately 23% of the photovoltaic products worldwide. In 2007 China produced 1700 MW of solar panels, nearly half of the world production of 3800 MW, although 99% was exported. China has installed about 80 MW of photovoltaics. Solar water heating is used extensively, though.

Manufacturers

These factories include GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Limited, which has a polysilicon production capacity of 18,000 MT (YE2009); Suntech Power, which produces approximately 50 MW/year of solar cells and photovoltaic modules; Yunnan Semi-conductor Parts Plant, which manufactures approximately 2 MW/year of monocrystalline cells; the Yingli Solar, which manufactures approximately 600 MW/year of polycrystalline cells and modules; Guofei Green Energy Source, which produces approximately 1 MW/year of modules; and Shanghai Poly-Vision Energy Science & Technology, which produces approximately 5 MW/year of modules.

Pollution

China is a large producer of polysilicon, for use in first generation solar cells around the world. A byproduct of the process is silicon tetrachloride, which is normally processed and recycled at a higher cost in the developed world, is often dumped by Chinese green startups. This substance is described as poisonous, polluting, and "like dynamite". These polluting polysilicon plants are said to be the new dot-coms in China. With proper recycling the polysilicon would cost $84,500 per tonne, but the Chinese companies are making it at $21,000 to $56,000 a ton.

Third-generation solar cells

Main article: Third generation solar cell

ENN Solar Group is the Chinese amorphous silicon thin-film cell maker. In March 2010 Anwell Technologies Limited began its mass production of the 1.1 × 1.4-metre amorphous silicon thin-film solar panel from its plant in Henan, China, marking a milestone on a journey that began about two years ago. Trina Solar expects its multicrystalline cells to reach 18.5% efficiency by the end of 2011, with a target of 21.5% in 2013.

Domestic installed capacity

The amount of electricity generated with solar power within China itself is so far comparatively small: as of the end of 2008, the solar power capacity attached to the national grid (i.e., excluding autonomous systems) was under 100 MW, i..e merely 0.01% of the nation's power generation capacity. However, rapid expansion was planned: according to the plans unveiled by the National Development and Reform Commission in 2007, the country's installed solar capacity was to grow to 1,800 megawatts by 2020. In 2009, a Commission's official name Wang Zhongying mentioned at a solar energy conference in Shanghai that, in his opinion, the plan may be exceeded several-fold, the installed capacity possibly reaching as much as 10,000 megawatt by 2020.

About 50 MW of installed solar capacity was added in 2008, more than double the 20 MW in 2007, but still a relatively small amount. According to some studies, the demand in China for new solar modules could be as high as 232 MW each year from now on until 2012. The government has announced plans to expand the installed capacity to 1,800 MW by 2020. If Chinese companies manage to develop low cost, reliable solar modules, then the sky is the limit for a country that is desperate to reduce its dependence on coal and oil imports as well as the pressure on its environment by using renewable energy.

See also

• List of photovoltaics companies
• Solar energy
• Solar panel
• Third generation solar cell
• Climate change in China
• Solar Valley (China)

External links

• Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association
• Yingli Green Energy
• China Solar PV Report (Greenpeace China)
• Kyocera Constructing New Solar Manufacturing Plant In China