China to subsidize solar firms

Technicians supervise the solar panels on the roof of a building in Shaoxing, East China's Zhejiang province, Dec 27, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

China has announced renewed plans to give subsidies to solar projects, under a plan to install solar panels in rooftops.

The third batch of tariffs, ranging from 7.5 yuan ($1.12) a watt to 9 yuan per watt, will sponsor 126 different projects nationwide with a total of 1.82 billion yuan, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development said.

Solar firms in Shandong province will get the highest amount, 258 million yuan for a total generating capacity of 44.97 mW, while companies in Liaoning and Jiangsu provinces follow Shandong, with generating capacities of 41.67 mW and 39.7 mW, respectively.

To boost the use of solar energy, China launched initiatives such as the Golden Sun Program, as well as a scheme to install solar panels in rooftops in 2009.