CHINA SOLAR, 2008 TO 2010

There are 28,000 villages in China (7 million households, 30 million rural people) with no electricity. 60% of the counties have electrical shortages. Without going to the expense of building transmission, the Chinese government will bring that population electricity by developing solar energy locally between 2008 and 2010.

This research predicts almost 60% of China homes will install solar water heaters in the next 5 years. Use is expected to grow 20 to 30%. By 2010, China will have 100 million square meters of solar water heaters.

Solar energy’s market share in China is likely to grow from 2003’s 4% to 20% in 2010 and 60% in 2020. Based on such volume, the report suggests the cost of solar energy-generated electricity “…will come close to or even become lower than that of power generation by coal in the near future…”

Such numbers explain the enthusiasm of the article’s last lines: ”In the Beijing 2008 Olympics, there will be solar panels to help light the Olympic grounds! Green is the future!”

China Solar Industry Research and Forecast, 2008-2010
December 2007 (Research and Markets)

WHO
China’s solar industry

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WHAT
China has created the preconditions to allow it to become a world leader in solar energy after 2008. This report details China’s solar industry, including solar photovoltaic utilization, solar hot water and heating industry analysis, solar industry construction, market profile details, trends, risk analysis and investment advice.

WHEN
- By 2030 solar energy-generated power will be 10% of world power generation; by 2050, it will be 20%.
- China has developed its domestic solar energy market for 10+ years, creating the foundation for an international business.
- China has been building solar power plants in its deserts since 2005. It now has a 15 megawatt capacity.

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WHERE
- Commercial development of solar energy is worldwide: The European Union, Japan and the United States are, because of energy supply security considerations, developing solar and other renewable energy resources.
- The U.S. space program is planning orbiting solar energy power plants that will transmit uninterrupted electricity to the earth via microwaves or laser.

WHY
- Unlike energies like coal and petroleum, solar energy is infinite and inexhaustible, generates little environmental pollution and, therefore, “…will have an immeasurable impact on the future of human race.”
- China has a huge potential domestic market and solid resource foundation as well as a developed infrastructure and tradition of innovation.
- China’s output and consumption of solar water heaters is more than half the world total.

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QUOTES
- Article: “…Solar energy becomes the new hope for Chinas energy resources: Given the recurrent oil and coal price spikes as well as the power shortages nationwide, energy is increasingly having a bottleneck effect on Chinas economy. This brings new opportunities for the development of solar energy…”
- Article: ”The solar energy power generation industry is free from the worries involved in sales. The world solar energy market is obviously a sellers market, where demand is much larger than the supply. It is reported that major Chinese solar energy enterprises including Taiwans Motech, Wuxis Suntech Power, Yingli Green Energy and Sunoasis from Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region have been running at full capacity, receiving orders that have to be put off well after 2007.”