China to offer free grid connection

Solar power producers can connect to the power grid for free.

Starting November 1, the State Grid Corporation of China will offer a free connection service for small- and medium-scale distributed photovoltaic solar power producers located near customers and with installed capacities of less than 10,000 kilowatts each.

The initiative is designed to give China’s sluggish solar industry a boost. China’s export-oriented solar panel industry is slumping due to excess manufacturing capacity and a steep dtop in foreign demand.

In addition, solar companies are now facing anti-dumping tariffs in the United States and Europe is considering imposing import duties.

Industry sources said a plan on how State Grid will support the solar PV industry is waiting government approval. The plan is also expected to help China’s installed distributed solar power generation capacity reach 15 gigawatts by 2015.