China's photovoltaic power generation up 23.4% in H1

BEIJING -- China's photovoltaic power generation rose 23.4 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2021 (H1) amid the country's efforts to peak carbon dioxide emissions and achieve carbon neutrality, official data showed.

In the Jan-June period, the country's photovoltaic power generation stood at 157.64 billion kWh, according to Wang Dapeng, an official with the National Energy Administration.

Newly-added installed photovoltaic power generation capacity totaled 13.01 million kilowatts in the period, and the cumulative installed photovoltaic power generation capacity hit 268 million kilowatts by the end of June, Wang said.

In June, China announced that it would end the subsidies for new centralized photovoltaic stations, distributed photovoltaic projects and onshore wind power projects from the central government budget in 2021 and achieve grid parity.

Effective from Aug 1, the policies aim to promote the efficient use of resources and the high-quality development of new energy industries, such as photovoltaics and wind power, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.