China supplies 80% of solar water heaters worldwide

Source: CCTV.com
09-26-2007 13:17

China's solar water heater industry supplies 80 percent of the world's market.

China is home to 80 per cent of the world's solar heated water, producing around 80 million cubic metres of solar hot water a year.

Huang Ming is the head of one of the largest businesses, supplying 15 per cent of China's solar hot water units and he plans to expand.

Huang Ming, President of Huang Ming Solar Energy Group said "The model China uses to popularise solar energy is not only suitable for developing countries but also for developed countries. Even without much support or subsidiary from the government, China's solar energy industry has flourished and now amounts for over 70 per cent of the world's industry."

China is now the world's second largest investor into renewable energy.

The growing interest and investment in green energy makes it a lucrative enterprise for Chinese entrepreneurs.

Dr. Eric Martinot of the BP Institute believes that it won't be long before one of these entrepreneurs brings these low cost units onto international market.

Eric said "They haven't really started yet, their domestic market is so large that it is really not necessary. But at some point, someone here, maybe one of the larger firms is going to recognise the profit potential for export and at that point European manufacturers, U.S. manufacturers will certainly have to start worrying."

In China, solar heated water is a bargain. A unit costs roughly 530 U.S. dollars, the cost of 4 years heating bills. After that the household enjoys free hot water.

Editor:Xiong Qu