Large-Scale Solar Power Development Workshop

China World Hotel, Beijing, People's Republic of China : 9 June 2011 - 10 June 2011

Background

Climate change and energy security have risen as major global threats during the last decades. The power sector alone accounts for about 30% of the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In the People's Republic of China (PRC), significant coal consumption and its expected growth trajectory are major concerns for local, regional and global emissions. The PRC is now the world's second largest electricity generator and its electricity consumption is expected to grow in tandem with the rapid economic growth. The PRC is addressing the threat of climate change and energy security through rapid deployment of renewable energy. It has also committed to increase the share of renewable energy in the national energy mix to 15% by 2020. This increase will require large capacity addition of key renewable energy technologies, such as wind and solar, during this period.

Since 2006, the wind power development in PRC has grown 12 folds with total installed capacity reaching more than 44 gigawatt (GW) by 2010. But unlike wind, the solar power development has been rather slow and the grid connected solar power capacity was only 600 megawatt in 2010. While the higher capital cost and the resultant cost of electricity pose affordability challenges for solar power, the Government of PRC has provided tariff incentives and supporting policies to encourage rapid solar power development to reach 30 GW capacity by 2020. Targeted initiatives are underway for both roof top solar photovoltaic (PV) installations as well as utility scale commercial Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) development.

The solar power development challenges faced in PRC are mirrored throughout the Asia and the Pacific region and beyond its geographic boundaries. Developing and implementing more effective policies and financial frameworks are expected to facilitate diffusion of both Solar PV and CSP technologies. Hence, during the annual country programming mission in December 2010, the PRC government requested assistance from Asian Development Bank (ADB) in organizing the solar workshop to discuss solar energy deployment in PRC.

Purpose

This workshop is expected to bring together high-level decision makers from governments, utilities, industries and financial institution to discuss and exchange their best practices, lessons learned, opportunities and barriers for the diffusion of both solar PV and CSP in PRC and other developing countries and region. The workshop will offer in depth discussion of the following topics:

  • Large Scale Solar (PV & CSP) Power – Recent Development and Opportunities;
  • Concentrated Solar Power Development – Opportunities and Challenges;
  • Solar Photovoltaic Development - Opportunities and Challenges;
  • Integration of Solar Power in Electricity Grid – Role of Smart Grid; and
  • Rapid Deployment for Solar Power - Market Mechanisms and Innovative Policies.

Expected Outputs

After the workshop, we will be able to (i) identify challenges and necessary actions for policy makers, regulators and financial institutions that would contribute to creation of a large-scale solar power markets in PRC and other DMCs; (ii).have identified innovative financing approaches and low cost financing for solar power generation projects.

Target Participants

Participation is by invitation only

  • Stakeholders from:
    • governments (PRC, India, European Union and some African countries),
    • multilateral development banks (ADB, AfDB and Work Bank),
    • utilities,
    • project developers and service providers,
    • academe,
    • civil society, and development partners and
    • other international organizations.