4 The Transition of China’s Power System
121
stood at 15%. In 2016, wind electricity losses approached 49.7 billion kWh, at a
curtailment rate of 17.1%. After several years of efforts, the total curtailed electricity
from wind nationwide dropped to 16.9 billion kWh in 2019, at a curtailment rate of
just 4%.
4.2.1.4 The Development of Solar Power in China
Photovoltaic and solar thermal power are the two established solar power technologies. Currently, PV dominates China’s solar power industry. Figure 4.15 shows the
cumulative and newly installed capacity of solar power in China between 2009 and
2019. Figure 4.16 illustrates the respective shares of nuclear, wind and solar in the
total installed capacity in the same time span. It can be seen that in spite of the
country’s late start, solar power generation has grown enormously in China. By the
end of 2019, the installed capacity of solar power had risen to rival that of wind
power. Solar power has become an important part of the energy portfolio of China.
In 2016, China’s installed capacity of solar power reached 42.18 million kW, and
electricity produced from solar hit 39.5 billion kWh. China overtook Germany in both
indicators to become the world’s largest and fastest-growing solar energy market. In
2019, the total installed capacity of solar power in China stood at 204.68 million
kW, generating 223.8 billion kWh of electricity. The share of solar power in the total
installed capacity amounted to 10.4% in 2019, comparable to that of wind power
(10.4%). The installed capacity of solar has pulled far ahead of nuclear and is edging
closer to that of wind power. The share of both wind and solar in the total installed
capacity topped 10% for the first time.
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Added Capacity
23 197 119 1248 898 1732 3413 5310 4491 3035
Cumulative Capacity 3
26 222 341 1589 2486 4218 7631 129421743320468
Installed Capacity/10,000 kW
Fig. 4.15 Cumulative and newly installed capacity of solar power in China between 2009 and 2019
121
stood at 15%. In 2016, wind electricity losses approached 49.7 billion kWh, at a
curtailment rate of 17.1%. After several years of efforts, the total curtailed electricity
from wind nationwide dropped to 16.9 billion kWh in 2019, at a curtailment rate of
just 4%.
4.2.1.4 The Development of Solar Power in China
Photovoltaic and solar thermal power are the two established solar power technologies. Currently, PV dominates China’s solar power industry. Figure 4.15 shows the
cumulative and newly installed capacity of solar power in China between 2009 and
2019. Figure 4.16 illustrates the respective shares of nuclear, wind and solar in the
total installed capacity in the same time span. It can be seen that in spite of the
country’s late start, solar power generation has grown enormously in China. By the
end of 2019, the installed capacity of solar power had risen to rival that of wind
power. Solar power has become an important part of the energy portfolio of China.
In 2016, China’s installed capacity of solar power reached 42.18 million kW, and
electricity produced from solar hit 39.5 billion kWh. China overtook Germany in both
indicators to become the world’s largest and fastest-growing solar energy market. In
2019, the total installed capacity of solar power in China stood at 204.68 million
kW, generating 223.8 billion kWh of electricity. The share of solar power in the total
installed capacity amounted to 10.4% in 2019, comparable to that of wind power
(10.4%). The installed capacity of solar has pulled far ahead of nuclear and is edging
closer to that of wind power. The share of both wind and solar in the total installed
capacity topped 10% for the first time.
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Added Capacity
23 197 119 1248 898 1732 3413 5310 4491 3035
Cumulative Capacity 3
26 222 341 1589 2486 4218 7631 129421743320468
Installed Capacity/10,000 kW
Fig. 4.15 Cumulative and newly installed capacity of solar power in China between 2009 and 2019