China’s NEA proposes significant solar feed-in tariff cuts for 2017

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
AECEA also noted that the potential severity in the FiT cuts came as a surprise in the distributed generation sector as this was recently considered to be favoured by the NEA in light of the utility-scale ground-mounted PV sector suffering from grid curtailment issues in several regions. Image: DuPont

China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) has published a draft version of proposed feed-in tariff (FiT) levels for ground mount and distributed generation PV power plants for 2017 that could lead to significant cuts to both sectors and overall curtailment of installations. 

In a client note, Asia Europe Clean Energy (Solar) Advisory Co. Ltd. (AECEA) noted that the FiT levels remained ‘unofficial’ and were only in 'draft' form as they were disseminated via various Chinese media outlets. 

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

Ground-mounted solar PV Power plants: 

Region 1: RMB 0.80 to 0.55 = minus 31% 
Region 2: RMB 0.88 to 0.65 = minus 25%
Region 3: RMB 0.98 to 0.75 = minus 23% 

Distributed Solar PV: 

Region 1: RMB 0.42 to 0.20 = minus 52%
Region 2: RMB 0.42 to 0.25 = minus 40%
Region 3: RMB 0.42 to 0.30 = minus 28%

However, without a major change the FiT cuts would potentially lower ROI (return on investment) levels significantly for PV project developers and therefore impact installations and demand throughout the supply chain. 

AECEA also noted that the potential severity in the FiT cuts came as a surprise in the distributed generation sector as this was recently considered to be favoured by the NEA in light of the utility-scale ground-mounted PV sector suffering from grid curtailment issues in several regions. 

Read Next

July 1, 2025
French private equity firm Ardian Clean Energy Evergreen Fund (ACEEF) has bought 117 solar PV plants, worth 116MW of total capacity in several locations in Italy.
July 1, 2025
A five-year research initiative is underway in Australia to test the viability of floating solar systems on irrigation dams.
June 30, 2025
Australian module manufacturer Tindo Solar has secured a 30MW solar module supply agreement to power Australia's first "net zero pipeline”.
June 27, 2025
Renewables investment platform Nexwell Power has signed a round of power purchase agreements (PPAs) with “one of the largest” US tech companies for solar PV capacity to be built in Spain.
June 27, 2025
Statkraft has signed PPAs with Better Energy to purchase energy from two solar power plants in Poland with a total capacity of 64GWh.
June 27, 2025
Solar developer Lightsource bp has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with a subsidiary of Taiwanese energy firm HD Renewable Energy (HDRE).

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
July 2, 2025
Bangkok, Thailand
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 22, 2025
Bilbao, Spain
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA