Chinese authorities will launch an investigation into quality standards in the solar industry, after a wave of demand and investment caused the country’s solar module production capacity to triple in the last two years, the Financial Times reported. China’s production capacity reached 17.6 gigawatts this year, equivalent to 62% of the world’s manufacturing capacity, said market research firm iSuppli. Roughly 22% of that capacity is for third-tier producers, who will probably be most affected by a quality crackdown. “A nationwide quality investigation will be done soon,” said Ma Xuelu, chief strategy officer for Yingli Solar (YGE.NYSE) and council member of the Chinese Renewable Energy Institute. “China’s photovoltaic industry is fledgling, so the survey will facilitate the standardisation of the industry and healthy development of solar firms.” China currently lacks a domestic certification program for solar panels.
Categories