Overview of the photovoltaic technology status and perspective in China

The rapid rise of China as a dominant global player in the solar photovoltaic industry has drawn much attention from scholars and policy-makers. However, few literatures have launched an in-depth analysis of China׳s strategic promotion of the photovoltaic industry. This study aims to fill this gap. This paper investigates legislative and policy development along with industrial strategies which the Chinese government has pursued in order to encourage development in the photovoltaic industry and also in related research and development activities. Moreover, from the perspective of technological and industrial development trends, the authors carried out an analysis of China׳s photovoltaic industry chain, pointing out that China׳s photovoltaic industry has the potential to take one step further in the areas of research and development, and the possibility of achieving breakthroughs in international cooperation.