A study published in Nature Energy finds that 344 prefecture-level Chinese cities can achieve solar PV electricity prices lower than grid-supplied prices, without subsidies.
Reaching grid parity – the point at which solar generation costs the same as electricity from the grid – represents a key stage in the expansion of renewable energy sources. The report authors attribute this milestone for China to a combination of technological advances, cost declines and government support, with 100 policies supporting the PV industry since the year 2000. However, in 2018, they explain, China cut subsidies to make the industry less dependent on state support and shift its focus from scale to quality.
