Capital Intensive China

Solar Power - Not all gloom

  • Published 24 Feb 2011

China's export-reliant solar companies have been under a cloud created by the prospect of falling subsidies in overseas markets. However, things are by no means all gloomy.

The rapid ascent of China's solar industry belongs to a tradition of export-oriented world beaters. Competitive on cost, Chinese companies have gone from producing around 2% of the world's photovoltaic (PV) generating capacity six years ago to more than half of the global total last year. Actual Chinese output is estimated at around 8GW in 2010, compared with an estimated global output of 15GW. More than 90% of Chinese PV output is exported and in 2009, those exports surged 143% to $15.44bn (Rmb 101.6bn, GBP9.6bn, €11.3bn), according to the China New Energy Chamber of Commerce.

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