China government may subsidize local thin-film PV module industry

China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) is reportedly evaluating the potential for offering subsidies or other forms of financial aid to the country's thin-film photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturing industry, according to industry sources in Taiwan.

NDRC will stimulate China's economic development using a budget of 4 trillion yuan (US$146 billion), and the country's thin-film photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturing industry is seeking susidies from NDRC, the sources indicated. While the manufacturing industry of polycrystalline silicon solar cells in China faces oversupply due to too many competitors, thin-film PV modules are a new area with development potential in China, the sources pointed out.

Taiwan-based makers are concerned about the possibility of the Chinese government helping China-based competitors, the sources pointed out. Taiwan's thin-film module industry, mainly due to Taiwan's well founded TFT-LCD industry, currently has significant technological advantages over China's, the sources analyzed.