Electrifying China

In 1996, the Chinese government initiated a program to provide rural areas in its Western provinces with electricity from photovoltaic and wind power plants. As part of the program, more than 80 villages in the provinces of Yunnan and Xinjiang will be supplied with electricity by means of solar power. Michael Wollny, SMA Technologie AG and Vitus Zeller, Shell Solar GmbH report on their experiences to date in electrifying off-grid rural areas of China with solar PV systems.