Chapter I industry overview

1.1 Definitions

The photovoltaic industry, also known as the solar photovoltaic industry, is a field that focuses on the use of photovoltaic technology to convert solar energy into electricity. The industry covers the manufacture of solar cells, the design, installation and maintenance of photovoltaic systems, and the sale and supply of electrical energy. At the heart of photovoltaic technology is the photovoltaic effect, through which solar panels are able to convert light energy into electricity, enabling sustainable clean energy production.

1.2 Development History

The development process of China's photovoltaic industry can be divided into four stages: slow development period (1970-2004), rapid growth period (2004-2012), rapid development period (2013-2018) and affordable online period (2019 to date).

In the slow development period, China's solar cell technology from aviation to civil transition, Ningbo, Kaifeng and other places have established civil solar cell factories. In the 21st century, the intensification of global environmental problems has led to the introduction of renewable energy subsidy policies by governments, and photovoltaic has begun to develop at a rapid pace. At the beginning of the 21st century, Wuxi Suntech successfully established a 10MW solar cell production line, which greatly shortened the gap between China and the international photovoltaic industry.

In the rapid growth period, Wuxi Suntech was listed in the United States, which brought the "richest man effect" to become the accelerator of China's photovoltaic industry. In 2006, China promulgated the "Renewable Energy Law of the People's Republic of China", which further promoted the development and utilization of renewable energy, marking the development of China's photovoltaic industry into the fast track. In 2009, the "Golden Solar Project" policy is dedicated to supporting the promotion of technological progress and large-scale development of photovoltaic power generation industry.

In the period of rapid development, the cumulative installed capacity of photovoltaic power generation in the country has increased by more than 10 times. In July 2013, The State Council proposed the dichotomy of "distributed photovoltaic power generation" and "photovoltaic power plants", and formulated tariff and subsidy policies. During the same period, the detailed supporting policies of the "National Five" were officially issued, which gave birth to the "golden age" of China's photovoltaic application market.

Entering the period of parity Internet access, in 2019, the National Development and Reform Commission issued the Notice on Actively Promoting the work of Wind Power and photovoltaic Power Generation without Subsidy parity Internet Access, which opened the curtain of the photovoltaic parity Internet access era. In 2020, the bidding policy was issued in advance, but the downward trend of subsidies is becoming more obvious, and the price of electricity continues to fall, and the industry has begun to enter the stage of quality and efficiency development. In 2022, the policy guidance will accelerate the construction of large-scale wind power photovoltaic bases focusing on deserts, Gobi and desert areas. China's newly installed PV capacity has ranked first in the world for 10 consecutive years, showing the strong strength and development potential of China's PV industry.

1.3 Development status

The development status of the global photovoltaic industry is in a positive trend. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) report, it is expected that by 2023, the global installed photovoltaic capacity will reach 1.3TW, which is more than double that of 2018. This increase not only reflects the rapid advancement of photovoltaic technology, but also shows the accelerating global demand for renewable energy. At the same time, the cost of photovoltaic power generation continues to fall, and it is expected that by 2023, the average cost of photovoltaic power generation will fall to $0.03-0.10 per kilowatt-hour, making photovoltaic power generation in many regions has become the most economical source of electricity.

In China, the development of the photovoltaic industry is also showing a strong momentum. According to the National Energy Administration, by 2022, China's installed PV capacity has exceeded 250GW, accounting for nearly a fifth of the global total. Behind this achievement is the continuous innovation of China's photovoltaic industry and the strong promotion of the government. For example, Chinese photovoltaic companies have begun to develop high-efficiency heterojunction solar cells and have gained a certain share in the market. The application of this technology will further improve the efficiency of photovoltaic power generation and reduce the cost of power generation.

At the same time, the Chinese government is also constantly promoting the development of the photovoltaic industry. In 2022, the Chinese government issued the "Photovoltaic Industry Development Plan (2021-2035)", which clarified that by 2035, China's photovoltaic installed capacity will reach the goal of 1TW. The implementation of this policy will further promote the development of China's photovoltaic industry and make China's position in the global photovoltaic industry more stable.