Featured in Distributed bliss – 06-2022

When a spark becomes a fire

In 2021, China installed 21.6 GW of residential PV, which accounted for nearly 40% of the total annual installation figure of 54.9 GW. Spool back to 2018, and the residential segment clocked in at a mere 3 GW – less than 7% of the total for the year. Vincent Shaw in Shanghai reports on how changing market priorities caused a spark that quickly became a fire.

By

Vincent Shaw

24 Jun 2022

A pilot program in Zhejiang province facilitated the installation of 4 MW of residential rooftop solar, using 1,200 Growatt inverters. | Image: Growatt

In 2015, China first surpassed Germany to become the world’s largest PV end market. Since then, the country has never relinquished its place at the top of the podium. Yet in contrast with most other major markets, China was dominated by ground mounted PV, rather than rooftop, and much less residential solar.According to the China …

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