The investment underscores AIIB's commitment to enhancing the penetration of rooftop solar power generation in rural China and contributing to rural revitalization efforts.
What drives the growth of residential rooftop solar in China?
The growth of Residential rooftop solar (RRS) in some western countries has predominantly been driven by individual or market behaviour and has been extensively studied. However, the development landscape of RRS in China differs, and its driving mechanisms remain unclear.
Fishman, an energy analyst at the Lantau Group, an economic consultancy firm in Shanghai, was keen to meet with developers in Shandong to understand how China is developing extensive rooftop solar installations at such a remarkable pace.
1. Introduction Residential rooftop solar (RRS) for electricity generation is essential in the new power system and vital during the low-carbon green energy transformation, which is being adopted globally (Moore and Bullard, 2021). In recent years, China's RRS has been expanding rapidly, with the annual growth rate ranking first in the world.
Will rooftop solar PV installations in China surge in the next 3 years?
Rooftop solar PV installations in China may surge in the next three years as the country goes through a green energy transition and plans to make renewable energy a key cornerstone in the country's path to a greener economy, a recent research report said.
At the same time, the Whole County PV programme provides an opportunity to revitalize rural China, local officials say. For example, homeowners can receive extra income by lending their rooftops to solar developers, or by selling the power generated by their rooftop system, Fishman says. The plan seems to be working.
The country's rapid development of rooftop solar capacity is also driven by government incentives. Newly added annual installed capacity for solar stations has been around 30 GW on average over the past few years, China New Energy Investment and Financing Alliance said.