What is the capacity potential for large-scale solar PV in China?

4. Discussion This work reports that the total capacity potential for large-scale PV in China is 108.22 TW with 150.73 PWh annual solar PV generation (implying an average capacity factor of 15.9), which can bring 150.28 billion tones of CO 2 emission mitigation caused by coal-fired power generation.

How big is photovoltaic power generation in China?

According to data released by the National Energy Administration, the cumulative total installed capacity of photovoltaic power generation in China in 2020 was 253GW, a year-on-year increase of 23.8%. As photovoltaics gradually enter the era of parity and 14-five-year plan, the installed capacity will show a more rapid growth trend.

What is the potential of solar power generation in China?

Chen et al. developed a comprehensive solar resource assessment system based on the GIS + MCDM method in 2019. This system was applied to the assessment of the potential of PV power generation in the countries under the “Belt and Road” initiative. The results showed that the PV potential of China is 100.8 PWh.

Where does PV power come from in China?

However, most of the PV potential in China is distributed in sparsely populated regions such as northwest and Tibet of China, and more than 95% of PV power generation in these areas is centralized PV power generation .

What are the major solar power technologies currently available in China?

The major solar power technology currently available is the solar PV system, in which sunlight is directly converted into electricity via photovoltaic effect. The PV industry in China entered its period of rapid development during the 21st century because of the significant increase in global demand for PV products.

How is solar PV power generation calculated in China?

Solar PV power generation was calculated according to the system parameters and assumptions shown in the Methods. In China, the cities with the highest and lowest solar PV power generation are Ngari (32.50° N, 80.11° E; around 1,976 kWh kW p−1) and Chongqing (29.43° N, 106.91° E; around 732 kWh kW p−1), respectively.