China-based PV module makers and PV system EPC (engineering, procurement, construction) contractors hope that the China government can extend feed-in tariff subsidies to the first quarter of 2015 because there is insufficient time left to reach the target total capacity of 13GWp of PV systems installed or to be installed around China in 2014,, according to industry sources.
Total installation capacity completed in the first half of 2014 was only 3.3GWp, 25.4% of the annual target, and the China government has offered more incentives to boost installation, mainly of distributed (mostly rooftop) PV systems, in the second half of the year, the sources said.
However, installation of distributed PV systems began to significantly increase as late as September, and installations in the fourth quarter are unlikely to be enough to reach the 2014 target due to insufficient time available and the impact of weather on installation work, the sources indicated.
One more quarter of subsidies could spur installations of distributed PV systems and ground-mounted PV power-generating stations in the fourth quarter making the 2014 target attainable, the sources said.
