China Approves 20.76 GW Subsidy Free RE Capacity

• NDRC has come out with a list comprising first batch of solar and wind power projects for the year 2019
• 168 solar power plants with 14.78 GW, 56 wind power projects with 4.51 GW and 26 pilot distributed renewable energy projects form the 250 projects list
• Grid companies have been directed to enter into long-term power purchase agreements with developers of these subsidy-free renewable energy projects

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China has approved 20.76 GW of combined solar and wind power capacity to be built as 'subsidy free' projects. This is the first batch of subsidy free projects it has approved for the current year.

The 250 power projects list contains:

•  168 solar power plants with 14.78 GW capacity,
• 56 wind power plants with 4.51 GW capacity and
• 26 pilot distributed renewable energy projects in 16 cities of the country representing 1.47 GW capacity.

The complete list of projects is available on the website of the National Energy Administration (NEA).

The NDRC has directed grid companies to sign long-term power purchase agreements with developers of these subsidy-free renewable projects.

In April 2019, the NEA set aside RMB 3 billion ($448 million) in subsidies for solar projects in 2019 while issuing draft rules on development of subsidy-free, grid parity solar PV and wind power projects. The draft prioritized subsidy-free renewable energy projects for grid connection that can begin construction in 2019 (see China Issues Draft Policy For Solar/Wind Projects). This was preceded by the NEA's decision to approve only unsubsidized wind and solar power plants till 2020 but allowed its provinces to promote subsidized projects (see Beijing Announces Solar Support Measures).