In addition to an array of illegal subsidies that have enabled China’s state-sponsored solar industry to seize more than half of U.S. and world market share at the expense of U.S. companies and jobs, the government of China recently issued a new Five-Year Plan for solar that provides for even greater government control and support of its industry, according to an analysis commissioned by the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM).The plan to fuel China’s export-intensive solar-industry campaign calls for a number of government initiatives, including new policy, financial and price subsidies; more support in industry, financial and tax policy; and further aid with development and production of equipment used to produce polysilicon, silicon ingots, wafers, cells and panels within the crystalline-silicon solar industry. Moreover, the portfolio includes plans to support industrialization of China’s as-yet-undeveloped thin-film industry, specifically harnessing silicon and copper indium gallium diselenide solar technologies.
