Distributed PV Policy Should Consider Grid Benefits

If all parties only emphasize and require the State Grid Corporation to pay purely in the photovoltaic grid-connected process, and provide free support, it may be possible in the short-term and it will be difficult to sustain in the long-term. In particular, after the implementation of the power subsidy policy, the corresponding measurement work volume of the power grid is very large, which also brings difficulty and pressure for the grass-roots power grid enterprises. In the future, when formulating appropriate policies, the state should give due consideration to the interests of power grid companies and strive to mobilize the enthusiasm of the power grid in terms of access, measurement, and related supporting services for distributed photovoltaic projects.

In recent years, China has attached great importance to the development of the photovoltaic industry. Since the beginning of 2013, the country has successively issued dozens of related policies to promote the development of the photovoltaic industry and promoted the rapid development of the distributed photovoltaic power generation market. From the historical data, as of the end of 2012, the cumulative installed capacity of photovoltaic power generation in China reached 6.5 million kilowatts, and the growth in 2013 was 12.92 million kilowatts. In early 2014, the National Energy Administration announced the total new record size of the PV market for the entire year, which is 14 million kilowatts, among which distributed photovoltaic power generation accounts for 8 million kilowatts.

I expect that this year's distributed photovoltaic power generation market, if it is a pure rooftop distributed photovoltaic power generation project, even if the Golden Sun project and the power subsidy project are all added together, it will not be possible to complete the 8 million kilowatt target set by the Energy Bureau at the beginning of the year, but If you add projects such as complementary agriculture and light and complementary fishery and fishery, this goal should be successfully completed. However, in terms of regional distribution, the tasks of many provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government) cannot be completed. This fully shows that both the government and the enterprises have, to a certain extent, underestimated the difficulty in the construction of distributed photovoltaic power plants. However, this fully shows that the potential for construction of such power plants in the future in China will be enormous.

Recently, the National Bureau of Energy issued the "Circular on Further Implementing the Distributed Photovoltaic Power Generation Policy" (hereinafter abbreviated as "No. 406"), which includes 15 supportive new policies for distributed photovoltaics, which has attracted wide attention both inside and outside the industry. As an important milestone in the development of the photovoltaic industry, the No. 406 document will become an important guiding document for the construction of photovoltaic power plants in the future. After the introduction of this policy, the policy issues that need to be resolved for distributed PV power plants in the future are few. If each policy of the No. 406 document can be put in place, it is believed that the construction of distributed photovoltaic power plants in China will have great development prospects.

With the introduction of the new policy and the growing confidence of the industry in the development of distributed photovoltaics, we must not ignore the persistent problems that exist in the distributed photovoltaic power generation industry. I think that at present, there are several difficulties in distributed photovoltaic power generation.

The financing problem is currently mainly reflected in SMEs. In the construction of distributed photovoltaic power plants, it is difficult for large-scale power generation companies to have a great deal due to their own positioning problems. As the mainstream of distributed photovoltaic power plant construction, SMEs, even if they get a very good project rate of return, they often cannot obtain a fair financing environment due to lack of credit rating.

The problem of difficult grid access is two-way. On the one hand, many distributed PV investors are not familiar with the basic technologies and security conditions that the project should have to access the grid. Therefore, during the discussion of the access plan, it is prone to poor communication with the grass-roots grid companies, strengthening both sides. This understanding is necessary. On the other hand, although the State Grid Corporation strongly supports and services photovoltaic power generation and grid connection, some grassroots power supply companies may still remain in the inertial thinking of traditional power generation technologies. It also takes some time to understand the characteristics and technologies of distributed photovoltaic power generation. Good adaptation and transformation of traditional grids to renewable energy access.

The main reason for the difficulty in collecting electricity tariffs is that many distributed photovoltaic power plant developers lease the roofs of industrial enterprises, while industrial enterprises must accept all photovoltaic power generation. However, when the developer charges the roof owner for electricity, once the credit of the roof owner is insufficient, and the current operating mechanism lacks mandatory electricity fee collection measures, it will directly lead to a serious threat to the survival of the distributed photovoltaic power plant.

In view of the above-mentioned three problems, I think: It is necessary to expand the financing channels of distributed photovoltaic power generation by expanding financial instruments and innovative financial models. From the arduous task of improving environmental issues in our country and the urgency of new energy applications, the distributed photovoltaic market should allow SMEs to adopt a variety of financial instruments for financing. In addition to increasing support from banks, distributed photovoltaic power generation projects approved by relevant credit agencies should be allowed to raise capital in various forms such as private equity, crowdfunding, funds, corporate bonds, and financing leases to speed up the construction of distributed photovoltaic power generation projects. .

On the issue of distributed photovoltaic grid-connected grids, the cooperation of power grid companies and the construction of corresponding supporting facilities have become one of the most important focuses of the industry. Grid companies are very important in the process of accepting and dissipating distributed photovoltaics. Personally, I believe that the more than 20 policies adopted by the state to support photovoltaic power generation all ignore the interests of grid companies in their own right. For the State Grid Corporation, which is also an enterprise, it only emphasizes and requires the State Grid Corporation to pay purely during the grid connection process and provide free support. It may be possible in the short term, and it will be difficult to support in the long term. In particular, after implementing the power subsidy policy, the corresponding measurement work volume of the power grid is very large, which also brings difficulty and pressure for the grass-roots power grid enterprises. In the future, when formulating appropriate policies, the state should give due consideration to the interests of power grid companies and strive to mobilize the enthusiasm of the power grid in terms of access, measurement, and related supporting services for distributed photovoltaic projects.

As for the issue of electricity tariff collection, I think that in the future, according to the current mode of charging the model zone as stipulated in the New Deal, grid companies will collect it on their behalf. This is a prerequisite for the full development of distributed photovoltaic power generation.

After the introduction of the New Deal, the National Energy Administration also stated that it will continue to adjust its photovoltaic development policy. The industry has also been calling for adjustments to the policy from key aspects such as financing, grid connection and tariff subsidies. For the implementation and adjustment of related policies in the future, I believe that the first step is to step up the work of the New Deal, establish a convenient and efficient filing system, and implement corresponding supporting measures for different Internet models. Establish an access system coordination mechanism to ensure that distributed PV subsidies are in place. The second is to reduce the threshold for the application of demonstration areas for distributed photovoltaic power generation in terms of the scope and scope of applications. The third is to further subdivide the price of electricity and improve the pricing mechanism. The fourth is to strive to establish a real estate property rights system for distributed photovoltaic power plants, and to eliminate the risks of distributed power plants through legislation. The fifth is to further increase the innovation of photovoltaic finance, such as supporting local governments to establish photovoltaic development funds, and encourage some powerful and outstanding enterprises to adopt independent financing methods.