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Solar Energy in China: Development Trends for Solar Water Heaters and Photovoltaics in the Urban Environment

United Nations Development Program, Global Environment Facility

Zhongying Wang

Energy Research Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission

China is the world’s largest market for solar water heating systems, installing 13 million square meters of new systems in 2004, mostly in large cities. Municipal authorities, however, are sensitive to quality and visual impact issues created by this technology deployment. Therefore, there is currently a trend toward developing building integrated systems as well as upgrading building codes, establishing testing and certification programs, and educating building architects and developers. The use of photovoltaics for urban and grid-connected applications has lagged behind the solar water-heating market; however, in 2003, a 1 MW photovoltaic-rooftop system was constructed in Shenzhen in southern China and several demonstration building integrated systems have since been installed. There is also an emerging interest in photovoltaics for distributed generation and grid support in China. Trends and requirements for developing solar urban applications in China will be presented in this article.

Key Words: renewable energy • solar water heating • photovoltaics • urban applications • China • standards • testing • certification

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