China solar capacity growth hits 40 GW in 2020 – official

SHANGHAI: China has brought about 40 gigawatts (GW) of new solar power into operation in 2020, taking its total installed solar capacity to 240 GW, its solar manufacturing association said on Thursday.

China’s total solar capacity had increased more than fivefold since 2015 and could double in the next five years, said Wang Bohua, vice-chairman of the China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA).

Solar accounted for about 10% of China’s total generation capacity at the end of 2019.

A rapid decline in costs has also allowed projects to operate without subsidies.

Wang told an industry conference that China’s solar capacity growth was expected to reach an average of 70 GW a year during the 2021-2025 “five-year plan”, and could even be as high as 90 GW, according to a CPIA presentation.

Source: reuters