Chinese Government Aiming For 15 GW Of New Solar Energy Capacity In 2015

The Chinese government is continuing to aim fairly high with regard to solar energy, as its recent reveal of the goal to install 15 gigawatts (GW) of new solar energy capacity in 2015 shows.

That 15 GW of new capacity will ideally be made up of at least 7 GW of distributed generation, according to the National Energy Administration (NEA) — the department responsible for setting the goals. Of the 7 GW of distributed, the NEA is aiming for at least 3.15 GW of rooftop solar.

If the government’s goals are met, they will represent a roughly 50% rise in total new installed capacity as compared to 2014, when 10 GW of new capacity was installed. If the goals for distributed solar (7 GW of new capacity) are met, they will represent a nearly 200% increase from the 2.3 GW of new distributed solar installed in 2014.

The 8 GW of that 15 GW figure that haven’t been accounted for yet in the goals are expected to be made up of new ground-mounted capacity.

It should be stated up front, though, that the Chinese government had aimed for 14 GW of new solar capacity last year, but the year “only” saw ~10 GW of new solar installed. These new goals may well not be achieved, or perhaps they will, owing to increased support as a means of avoiding the same outcome?

The official announcement did make mention of the plan to support development on wastelands and “fish ponds” — so perhaps there will be some good policy support for this aim?

Specific provinces with relatively high levels of solar insolation — Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, etc — have been given targets that are a good deal higher than the goals for provinces without as much solar energy potential.

Image Credit: Public Domain