Global photovoltaic power generation has entered a large-scale development phase that has the features of strong growth in the traditional photovoltaic market and rapid development of the emerging photovoltaic market. Traditional PV power generation markets such as China, Europe, the United States, and Japan have maintained rapid growth, and emerging markets such as Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa have also started rapidly.
The development of the Chinese photovoltaic industry has gone through four phases: growth, industrialization, large-scale development and scale management.
2004-2010 Initial Stage of Development
The average annual growth rate of newly installed capacity reaches 81.0%. Main development locations are European countries.
In 2004 there was large-scale industrialization of photovoltaic power generation in Europe. European countries, led by Germany, introduced state subsidy policies to encourage large-scale commercial development of the photovoltaic industry.
2011-2013 Finishing Period
The average annual growth rate of newly installed capacity reached 12.8%. The European debt crisis has prompted European governments to significantly reduce photovoltaic subsidies. The first phase further exacerbated the imbalance between supply and demand.
At the same time, the United States and Europe launched successive “double backlash” investigations against China’s photovoltaic industry in 2011 and 2012, which dealt a severe blow to the photovoltaic industry as a whole. In 2012, the world’s newly installed photovoltaic capacity fell for the first time.
2014-2018 Growth Stage
The average annual growth rate of newly installed capacity reached 22.1%, and the main development location was China. In 2012, China released the “Twelfth Five-Year Plan for the Development of Solar Power Generation” in response to “double reverse” investigations in the US and Europe and increased subsidies for photovoltaic applications.
In July 2013, China officially released several State Council Statements to Promote the Healthy Development of the Photovoltaic Industry, which clarified the price promotion standard and the eligibility period. On the testimony that led the development of the photovoltaic industry and opened the second round of rapid growth of the photovoltaic industry.
2019-2025 Parity Period
The main development area is in the world. With the continued advancement of photovoltaic technology and cost improvements, photovoltaic power generation has become a form of clean, low-carbon, and inexpensive energy in many countries. The global photovoltaic market is expected to enter a new round of steady growth.
With the introduction of various favorable policies, the total number and growth rate of domestic photovoltaic systems has increased rapidly; China has a growing share of annual new installations worldwide and has gradually developed into a major photovoltaic power generation country.
