Priority Projects for Development
Of the New and Renewable Energy in China

Solar Energy Photovoltaic Technology

Research and Development of High-efficient & Low-cost Solar Cells

1.        Background

Solar energy and the like new energy are one of the five most decisive technical fields in the world economic prospect to the year 2000, among which the solar energy photovoltaic power generation is one of the most noticeable projects. In 1994, the solar cells sold in the world hit 64 megawatts, showing a rapid development situation. The sales of solar cells in China were over 1.2 megawatts. The utilization was accumulated to about 5 megawatts. The scope of application constantly expanded. For the last several years, the market sales volume increased with a rate of 20 per cent. It is estimated that by 2000, the utilization volume of solar cells in China will exceed 10 megawatts. At present, the crystal silicon solar cell packages are in great demand. In order to meet the increasing market demand of solar cells, great efforts must be done to develop and produce varied high-efficient and low-cost photovoltaic cells, except that the potential of the present enterprises must be brought into play, and to expand the production scale of solar cells and raise the economic benefits of the technology as well. 

2.        Objectives

The objective is to raise efficiency, reduce cost, expand scale and push forward the photovoltaic industry.

•  Develop high-efficient and low-cost polycrystalline silicon solar cell technology. Combine the development and introducing. Establish a production line with an annual capacity of megawatt level.

• Heighten the efficiency of the single crystal silicon solar cell packages, reduce the production cost, elaborate the existing production capacity and meet the requirement of the market.

3.        Content

• Establishment of megawatt-grade production line on polycrystalline silicon solar
  cell package.
  Main economic targets of technology:
  Efficiency of package: 13%
  Life-span of package: 20-25 years

• Technical innovation of the production line of single crystal silicon solar cell package
  Main economic targets of technology:
  Efficiency of package: 14-15 per cent
  Life-span of package: 20-25 years

• Development of high efficient and low-cost new solar cells.
  
  

Research and Demonstration on Applied Technology Of Solar Cells

1.       Background

The application field of solar cells in China has been constantly expanding to be
involved in agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, communication & transportation, telecommunications, meteorology, petroleum drainage, culture and education and household power, etc. Photovoltaic power generation has played a noticeable role in power supply in the remote and no-power areas or in many other special occasions. But from the point of view in the general technical level and scale of application, there still exist a very big gap comparing with industrially developed countries. The main problems include that the cost of photovoltaic system was comparatively high; industrial production of the necessary accessories and equipment have not yet been formed; the demonstration of application was not enough; and the public lacked understanding of the great application potential of the solar cells; as well as the application of the system was limited in operation independently without connected to grid or combined with building industry. So, it is necessary to strengthen the research and demonstration of the application technology of solar cells, push forward the industrial production and expand the applications and the market.

2.      Objectives

After the implementation of the project, the following objectives can be realized: 

• Industrial production of small-size photovoltaic power

• Systematization, standardization and commercialization of photovoltaic power stations, which have a capacity less than 100 kilowatt and have put into operation independently.

• Research in the grid-connected photovoltaic power generation technology and get ready for large-scale application.

3.       Content

• Industrial Production of small-size photovoltaic power
  Scope of power: kilowatt grade and hundred-watt grade.
  Scale of production: total capacity is more than 1 megawatt.
  Cost of the system: the average cost will be reduced by over 30 per cent from that in" the Eighth Five Year Plan"±.

• Systematization, standardization and commercialization of photovoltaic power station operated independently
  Scope of power: 10-100 kilowatt
  Cost of system: 30 per cent reduction over "the Eighth Five-year
  Plan".

• Research on and demonstration of the grid-connected photovoltaic
  generating technology
  Research on megawatt grade grid-connected photovoltaic power
  station at the preliminary stage
  Demonstration photovoltaic power station on 10-kilowatt grade.
  Development of inverse transformers used for 100-kilowatt grid-connected photovoltaic power stations
  Research on the technologies related to the operation and power
  system of the photovoltaic power station.

•  Development of high-lift photovoltaic power pumps.
  Main technical specifications:
  Lift: 50-100 meters
  Power of solar cell; 5-10 kilowatts