China needs 200 GW of solar by 2020, say industry groups

Country urged to double solar power goal in order to plug projected nuclear and hydropower shortfalls; currency devaluation could provide boon for solar exports but harm EU.

Three leading industry groups in China have encouraged the government to double the nation’s solar power target for 2020 to 200 GW in order to plug an expected gap in China’s power capacity.

With nuclear and hydropower forecast to miss their 2020 targets, solar power is in prime position to bridge any shortfall, asserts the China Photovoltaic Industry Association, the Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association, and the China Renewable Energy Society.

A document seen by Bloomberg contains a written proposal by all three industry bodies for the government to boost solar installations in China – a plan that would see deployment increase sixfold and deliver welcome revenues for the country’s leading Tier 1 solar companies.

Currently, China has just over 33 GW of solar PV capacity installed cumulatively, and the National Energy Administration (NEA) has targeted an additional 17.8 GW of solar deployment in 2015. Its wider target for 2020 is for 15% of the nation’s energy to be provided by renewables – an increase on the 11% target last year. (by PV Magazine)