SC4.S9.

2 (Invited)
15:30 – 16:00

Development of Solar Photovoltaic in China

Cui Rongqiang, Wang Jianqiang, Ye Qinghao, Yan Shiquan, Shi Yang, Du Jiabing,
Yang Le, Meng Fanying, Xu Lin, Shen Wenzhong
Solar Energy Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, China 200240

Abstract: With the rapid development of global solar photovoltaic (PV) industries, China’s PV is
growing at a surprising high-speed. China’s renewable energy law was promulgated on Jan. 1, 2006. The
law provides the legal endorsement to the development of all types of renewable energy, including solar
photovoltaic (PV) power. The present development of solar photovoltaic in China will be briefly
introduced in this paper.

1 Introduction
In China’s power network, nearly 24% electricity is generated from waterpower while the rest
76% is still generated from firepower. China is rich in sunshine resources. It is absolutely possible to
use solar energy as an alternative to the firepower. The proactive development of solar photovoltaic
application has already set a solid foundation in further utilizing the great potential of solar energy in
wider areas in China.

2 An Ideal Model of Chinese PV Growth

SE (Solar Energy) + ES (Energy in Storage) = WED (Whole Energy Demand)
It’s an ideal energy industry development model in China. We believe that it could be absolutely
feasible in the context of China’s rapid, continuous technological and economic development.

3 Five-Stages of PV Application in China

Stage 1: Off-grid PV System designed to supply power to remote regions. The main advantage is
such system does not need power transmission equipments. The ideal capacity can be 100 W to 100
kW and the ideal module price can be US$4-6 per Wp.
Stage 2: On-grid roof mounted PV systems, which is called as Building Integrated PV System
(BIPV). Such system can be installed on building’s roof and walls to save cost and land usage. The
ideal capacity can be 1 kW to 10 MW and the ideal module price can be US$4-6 per Wp.
Stage 3: PV Power Station in desert, which could take advantage of rich sunshine in desert areas.
The ideal capacity can be 1 MW to 1 GW and the ideal module price can be US$3-4 per Wp.
Stage 4: PV Power Station in coastal areas. China’s coastal urban areas cities are in great demand
for electricity. PV stations there can meet such demand and save power transmission cost. The ideal
capacity can be 10 MW to 10 GW and module price can be US$2-3 per Wp.
Stage 5: PV Power roof over streets. PV roof set up over the streets to supply electric power to
electricity powered cars or trains. With such technology, we can replace traditional gas engines with
solar powered electro-motors and enter into an era of solar power. The ideal capacity can be 10 GW to
1,000 GW and the ideal module price can be less than US$1 per Wp.

4 Photovoltaic Technology Research &Development

More than 30 Universities or Institutions take PV research programs.
Laboratory Efficiency and Size of Photovoltaic Cell mainly developed in China

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 Cell Type Highest Efficiency (%) Maximum Size (cm2) Research Organization
20.4 2×2 Tianjin Inst. of Electrical Source
Mono-Si
18 12.5×12.5 Suntech
Poly-Si 16.5 12.5×12.5 Suntech
GaAs 29.25 1×1 Tianjin Inst. of Electrical Source
CIGS 14.3 0.87 Nankai Univ.
CdTe 13.38 0.502 Sichuan Univ.
DSC 7.4 10.2 Inst. of Plasma Physics
a-Si 9.2 20×20 Nankai Univ.
µ-Si/a-Si 11.8 10×10 Nankai Univ.
HIT 17.27 1.2 College of Physics Sciences
nc-Si 8.87 1.0 Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ.
Thin film
15.1 1.05 Beijing Solar Energy Institute
pc-Si
5 PV Manufacturer
5.1 C-Si Solar Cell Output and Capacity in China
2006 (MW)
Company Output in 2005 (MW)
Output Capacity
1 Suntech Power 82 160 300
2 Solarfun 1 26 60
3 Ningbo Solar Cell Factory 25 43 100
4 CEEG Nanjing PV-Tech 5 47 190
5 Trina 50
6 Baoding Yingli 3 38 60
7 Yunnan Tianda 25 50
8 Shanghai Solar Energy S&T 7 35
9 Shanghai Topsolar Green Energy 7 20 45
10 CSI 25
11 Jing Ao Solar 30 75
12 Yangzhou Tianbao 10 25
13 Shenzhen Topray 10 20
Others 15 34 235
Total 139 450 1270
By the end of 2006, China’s manufacturing capacity and output of C-Si solar cell is 1,270 MW and
450 MW respectively, The PV module capacity and output in 2006 is 2,000 MW and about 800 MW
respectively. In 2007, there will be about 2000 MWp PV cells and more than 1600 MWp PV modules
manufactured in China.
5.2 Expansion of a-Si Solar Cell Capacity
There’re five thin film solar cell manufacturers in China:Shenzhen Topray, Tianjin Jinneng, Shenzhen
Trony, Shenzhen Sumoncle, Harbin-Chronar
The total capacity and output in 2006 is 30.5 MW and 17.5 MW. In Year 2007 Suntech invests to
build up a 400 MWp amorphous and microcrystalline silicon manufacture in Shanghai.
5.3 Development of PV Material Production

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 (1) they are three high purity poly-silicon manufacturers in China and they are as follow：
Emei Semiconductor ，Sichuan Xin-Guang，Luoyang Silicon High-Tech
The total output of high purity poly-silicon is 301 ton in 2006. In 2007, there are more then 10
projects of high purity silicon have already been initiated. By 2010, we estimate the capacity and the
output of high purity silicon will be 20,000-50,000 and 10,000-25,000 ton per year respectively.
(2) China has around 1,200 crystal silicon furnaces by 2006, mainly supplying wafer to Cell
manufactures in mainland China and Taiwan, and newly 800 crystal silicon furnaces will be set up in
China this year. The Main CZ Silicon manufactures are as follow:
Ningjin Jinglong, Shunda, Shanghai Jingyong, Jiangsu Huariyuan, Comtec LTD. Jinzhou Xinri
Silicon, Songgong, Zhejiang Yuhui, Trina, Shanghai JiuJing.
(3)China has four poly-silicon ingot and wafer manufacturers:
LDK, Baoding Yingli, SIPV, Jinggong-Preiss-Daimler
The total capacity and output in 2006 is about 338 MW and150 MW. We estimate that the
capacity of LDK and Yingli will be around 1,600 MW by 2009 and 600 MW by 2010 respectively.
5.4 Localized PV manufacturing equipments
(1)More than 10 equipment manufacturers in China can assemble and produce crystal silicon
furnace, polycrystalline silicon furnace and cutting machine to this year.
(2)More than 20 manufacturers in China such following equipments: wafer rinse machines,
diffusion furnace, etching machine, PECVD deposition equipments, drying furnace, belt furnace, and
semiautomatic screen printer and so on. PV testers are mainly made by Shanghai New-Bridge Solar
energy equipment, SJTU and others.
5.5 PV production materials and peripheral equipments
Most PV production materials and peripherals, such as frame, junction box, EVA, glass and
inverter are now can be made in China, then it can greatly decreases the PV products cost and makes it
more competitive in international PV market.

6 Application of PV in China
By 2006, China has installed about 85 MW PV systems, about 15 MW installed in 2006.
(1)In the government and World Bank/GEF sponsored project, PV and PV-wind hybrid systems
are installed to supply electricity to remote regions. Around 5 MW systems were installed in 2006.
(2)Off-grid PV systems are installed in relay stations, railway stations, weather monitoring
stations and navigation lighthouses. Around 5 MW systems were installed in 2006.
(3)Many On-grid roof mounted demo PV systems have been installed for Beijing Olympics 2008
and Shanghai 2010 World Expo. Total installed capacity was about 1MW in 2006. Solarfun Co. has
wined the 1MW on-grid PV station project in Shanghai Chongming Island, and the PV electric price
of this project is under negotiation.
(4)About 1800MWp PV application target by 2020 provided from NDRC and detailed
information is on consideration.

7 Conclusion
Although China PV industry has made great progress, it still falls behind its counterparts Japan,
US, Germany and European countries. In order to expand Chinese PV market, we still truly need to
acquire more support policies from the government and learn more experiences from PV developed
countries, and then Chinese people can really benefit from this green, clear and safe PV energy.

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