SEMI PV Group presents China policy roadmap report

The SEMI PV Group, the special interest group that serves the photovoltaic supply chain, has made available a report on “China’s Solar Future,” prepared by the China PV Advisory Committee, organized by the PV Group, and comprising China PV industry and academic leaders. The report presents specific recommendations for a China PV policy roadmap; in particular, the need for an accelerated adoption of PV generated electric power in China.

China’s high growth rate will result in an increased demand for energy sources. With regard to the country’s increased PV production of late, the report highlights the fact that almost all of this production (98%) is exported. The report recommends an accelerated adoption of PV generated electric power in China to reach the global average level of PV power generation by 2014.

“China is just now beginning to understand the global opportunities and implications of PV products and systems, and it is creating a massive PV industry representing all areas of the supply chain,” said Dan Martin, executive vice president of the SEMI PV Group. “In fact, the ramp up has been so significant that in 2007, China took the number one spot in solar cell manufacturing with a total production of over 1GW, and in 2008, the region doubled that production. It is important that China occupy a leading position in the demand for solar power, as well as contribute to global supply.”

The imbalance between production and consumption will be exacerbated by the country’s lack of world-class production technology for high-purity silicon, while the Chinese PV industry’s tendency to import technology and equipment may present problems in the future.

The aim of the China PV Advisory Committee is to address issues such as these, and to petition the Chinese government for PV legislation, policy and financial support. Further information on the SEMI PV Group’s China report is available here.