Is it time to launch grid parity in the Chinese solar photovoltaic industry? Evidence from 335 cities

M.M. Zhang, C. Zhang, L.Y. Liu and D.Q. Zhou

Energy Policy, 2020, vol. 147, issue C

Abstract: This study evaluates grid parity in the Chinese solar PV industry by calculating the unsubsidized unit profits (UUPs) of solar PV projects in 335 Chinese cities. Furthermore, the effects of technological advances and various electricity price mechanisms on grid parity are explored. We consider the differences between centralized grid-connected and distributed projects. Two-factor learning curves are used to forecast technological progress and two kinds of electricity price mechanisms—government-regulated and market-based—are also brought into analyses. The results indicate the infeasibility of implementing complete grid parity regardless of the type of project. However, centralized grid-connected projects in 5 cities and distributed projects in 129 cities could implement pilot grid parity. On the whole, centralized grid-connected project has a lower benefit performance than distributed projects. Resource Zone I, which consists of Ningxia Province and several western cities in Gansu, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia, has the best benefit performance of three resource areas. Technological advances and variations in electricity prices under both mechanisms could improve the UUPs but raising them above zero in all cities would still be impossible. The market prices of electricity under market-based mechanisms may generally have greater impacts than do government-regulated mechanisms on the benefit performances throughout the whole nation.

Keywords: Photovoltaic grid parity; 335 cities; Unsubsidized unit profit; Technological progress; Electricity price mechanisms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:enepol:v:147:y:2020:i:c:s0301421520304596

DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2020.111733

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