PRC to install 35-38GW of PV capacity in 2020

• According to the data published by Chinese NEA, the People’s Republic installed 12 gigawatts of photovoltaic projects in December. However, the country also developed almost 41 gigawatts of carbon-emitting coal power generation capacity during 2019.

As was expected earlier, China would install from 20 up to 40 gigawatts of PV capacity over 2020. AECEA is estimating this value as being closer to the upper limit. 12 gigawatts of photovoltaic power were tied to the grid in December, which means China has installed 30.1 gigawatts of solar during 2019. Deployment of another 500 megawatts and 1 gigawatt was completed a month and two months ago, respectively. Taken together, this has brought the country to the aggregate PV capacity of 204.68 gigawatts. According to the information from AECEA, some of the facilities commissioned at the end of 2019 must have been approved for construction 3 years back. The facilities had not been developed until the price for solar components fell down sufficiently. Taking into account the last month’s contribution, the Hong Kong-based consulting organization is going to reconsider its earlier forecast for solar activity in the country predicted for the new year. Considering the 2019’s addition of 30.22 gigawatts and 15-25 percent year-over-year growth, China is expected to install from 34.8 up to 37.8 gigawatts of solar generation capacity during 2020. In spite of solar capacity expansion, carbon footprint is remaining an urgent problem for the republic. Over the past year, PRC installed 40.92 gigawatts of coal power stations, which exceeds the installed capacity for any other source of energy. As a result of 4.1 percent yearly growth, the People's Republic of China currently operates 1.19 terawatt of coal-fired capacity. The second fastest-growing energy sector is solar power, with 17.4-percent growth compared to 2018. Wind power ranks third by adding 25.79 gigawatts, which is 14-percent rise to the aggregate capacity of 210 gigawatts.