Based on actual total installation capacity of 3.79GWp for PV systems set up around China during the first three quarters of 2014, the total installation capacity for the whole year is estimated at 7-10GWp, far short of the target of 14GWp set in early 2014 by China's National Energy Administration (NEA), according to China-based media reports.
As permits for setting up rooftop PV systems and ground-mounted PV power-generating stations are released by local governments, many applicants capitalized on good public relations to obtain permits and then sold permits at CNY0.3-0.5/W, considerably high gains in comparison with an average cost of CNY7 (US$1.14) /W for setting up PV systems.
NEA thus prohibited reselling permits in October 2014. However, the ban has caused a problem that several permit holders do not have enough funds to set up PV systems and interested investors in PV systems do not have permits, a situation which has hindered establishment of PV systems.
For China's 13th Five-year Development Plan (2016-2020), NEA sets a goal of attaining cumulative total installation capacity of 100GWp by the end of 2020.
