China is developing a monitoring and assessment system for its PV power market, helping prospective investors invest in areas with lower idle PV power capacities.

Peng Peng, director for policy research, the China Renewable Energy Association, pointed out that the policy focuses on ground-mounted PV power capacities, offering prospective investors data on areas suitable for investments in PV power facilities, so as to curb idle capacities.  

The National Energy Administration (NEA) announced last week that it will restrict annual PV power installation capacities according to idle rate and other considerations, including land condition and subsidy and support of municipal governments.

The policy aims to slash installation quota in areas with massive waste of PV power. Bloomberg New Energy Finance estimates that 3.28 kilowatts/hour (?) of PV power was wasted in China in 2016, due to insufficient grid capacity.

Curtailment of PV power and wind power has been a major issue haunting China for years. In 2016, 17% of generated wind power was wasted in China, according to Greenpeace.

NEA data show that newly installed PV power capacity totaled 24.4 GW, up 9% year-on-year, in China in the first half this year. As of 2016, total installed PV power capacities had topped 77.8GW in the nation, according to the International Renewable Energy Association (IRENA).

NEA expressed last month that China will introduce renewable-energy quota system, to solve the problem of idle capacities. Yvonne Liu, analyst of Bloomberg New Energy Finance stationed in Beijing, noted that the projected PV power assessment system will facilitate sensible investments, adding that prospective investors need more market forecast, data on installation quota for new projects, and investment evaluation and suggestion in their investment decision-making. 

(First photo courtesy of pixabay)