Green Energy (Renewable Energy): Solar power in China
Now in China there are six factories producing at least 2 MW/year each of monocrystalline, poly-crystalline and non-crystalline Photovoltaic cells.
These factories of China include:
the LDK Solar Co , Wuxi Suntech Solar Energy Co., Ltd., which produces approximately 50 MW/year of solar cells and photovoltaic modules;
the Yunnan Semi-conductor Parts Plant, which manufactures approximately 2 MW/year of mono-crystalline cells;
the Baoding Yingli Solar Energy Modules Plant, which manufactures approximately 6 MW/year of polycrystalline cells and modules;
the Shanghai Jiaoda Guofei Solar Energy Battery Factory, which produces approximately 1 MW/year of modules;
the Shanghai PV Science and Technology Co., Ltd., which produces approximately 5 MW/year of modules.
China has become a world leader in the manufacture of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology, with its six biggest solar companies having a combined value of over $ 15 billion. Around 820 megawatts of solar photovoltaic (PV) were produced in China in 2007, second only to Japan.
Suntech Power Holdings Co based in Jiangsu, is the world's third- biggest supplier of solar cells.
There are some obstacles to the further development of the Chinese solar energy sector that China faces.
These obstacles China faces include the lack of a nationwide comprehensive photovoltaic (PV) plan, the lack of updated facilities and sufficient financial resources to support PV research at research institutes, the lack of sufficient facilities and resources at companies manufacturing photovoltaic products, the failure of companies to be able to produce high quality, reliable and low cost PV products and the relatively weak educational and training opportunities in China for photovoltaic science and technology.
On March 26, 2009, the Chinese government announced solar subsidy plan. This solar subsidy plan would offer about $2.94 per watt for solar photovoltaic installations greater than 50 kilowatts. The industry analysts believe this solar subsidy plan will give Chinese solar companies a big market boost
