On the 12th, State Council Vice Premier Li Keqiang emphasized during a meeting that China will integrate photovoltaic development with urbanization strategies. Measures such as promoting solar power equipment, supporting distributed generation, and facilitating grid connection are being rolled out to boost domestic market growth. This initiative reflects a broader push to align renewable energy with national development goals.
According to a report from the China Securities Regulatory Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is spearheading a new program called "Photovoltaics to the Countryside." The goal is to bring large-scale solar power into rural areas and support future urbanization efforts. In addition, since the second half of this year, various ministries have been working on policies to foster the healthy development of the photovoltaic industry. These are expected to be formalized into a national-level guidance document soon.
Currently, there are about 50 million mu of agricultural sheds across the country. If all of them were equipped with photovoltaic systems, it could create a market worth 250 billion yuan. However, photovoltaic greenhouses are just a small part of this opportunity. More promising applications lie in residential rooftops. Overall, the potential for rural photovoltaic applications is estimated to exceed 1 trillion yuan.
Experts predict that by 2015, China's total photovoltaic capacity will surpass 50 million kilowatts—more than 15 times the 3 million kilowatts at the end of 2011. Achieving this growth requires diversification of the domestic PV market. During a recent discussion in Jiangsu, State Councillor ** stressed that opening up the terminal market is essential for long-term success.
The key to developing the terminal market lies in expanding downstream applications. Since the second half of the year, several ministries have taken action: the National Energy Administration launched a 15 GW demonstration zone for distributed solar power, while the Ministry of Finance expanded its “Golden Sun†project to over 3 million kilowatts.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has been studying the use of solar products in rural areas since May. Their findings show that apart from some remote public institutions, most rural regions remain untapped for solar power. As a result, the ministry plans to launch a large-scale “PV to the Countryside†initiative.
Under this plan, selected solar products and companies will be included in an official catalog. Farmers and developers using these products will receive government subsidies to stimulate demand. This move aims to create a more active rural market for photovoltaic solutions.
With the country pushing forward both urbanization and agricultural modernization, the photovoltaic sector is seen as a potential beneficiary. Experts believe that green and circular agriculture are crucial for these two initiatives, and large-scale solar adoption can play a significant role.
Wang Shijiang highlighted the potential of combining solar power with facility agriculture. However, Wang Runchuan from JA Solar expressed cautious optimism, noting that the PV industry has largely focused on urban and industrial markets so far. Expanding into rural areas will require more than just policy support—it also needs clear financial incentives and infrastructure improvements.
Wang Runchuan pointed out that while the rural market holds great promise, current challenges include the lack of subsidies, unclear investment returns, and limited maintenance services. Even basic home solar systems can be expensive for low-income families, and grid integration remains a technical and regulatory hurdle. The issue of electricity pricing and subsidy mechanisms is also complex.
Despite these challenges, many believe that the rural PV market is on the rise and could become a major growth area in the coming years. With continued policy support and innovation, the path to widespread solar adoption in rural China may be clearer than ever before.flange spring washer,curved spring washer,spring coil pring washer
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