Lower costs, policies lift solar power in China

BEIJING - China’s installed solar power capacity surged over the first six months of this year because of shrinking costs and Government policies, with 23.6 gigawatts of solar power installed, 34.2% higher from a year ago, according to Alex Liu, a UBS analyst.

Liu added that “most domestic analysts predicted at the beginning of the year that only 20-25 gigawatts would be added for the whole year”.

Of the installed solar capacity, 7 gigawatts was generated by rooftop panels at consumers’ homes, up from less than 2 gigawatts a year ago, according to the China Electricity Council.

The Shanghai Daily reported that shrinking costs have powered the growth of solar power.

 Five years ago it cost around RMB1.5 (US$0.22) to generate a kilowatt-hour of solar power. By the end of last year it cost under RMB0.6 per kwh, Liu said.

China is also spurring solar power development by giving grants for solar projects and promoting installations in remote and undeveloped regions.  www.webershandwick.cn (ATI).