The proportion of distributed photovoltaic in total photovoltaic power generation – How to manage distributed photovoltaic power generation? New regulations are here.

Recently, the largest distributed photovoltaic power station project at a water treatment plant in the country—the Linjiang Water Treatment Plant distributed photovoltaic power generation project by Hangzhou Xiaoshan Huantou Group—has successfully been connected to the grid and started generating electricity. The photo shows the project site. Photo by Long Wei (People's Visual).

The National Energy Administration recently revised and issued the "Management Measures for the Development and Construction of Distributed Photovoltaic Power Generation" (hereinafter referred to as the "Management Measures"), which sets clear requirements for the management of various stages throughout the life cycle of distributed photovoltaic power generation. Distributed photovoltaic power generation refers to photovoltaic power generation facilities developed on the user side, connected to the distribution grid, and in principle, balanced and regulated near the distribution grid system.

Currently, distributed photovoltaic power generation in China is developing rapidly. By the end of the year, the cumulative installed capacity of distributed photovoltaic power generation has reached hundreds of millions of kilowatts, which is several times that of the end of the previous year, accounting for a certain percentage of the total photovoltaic power generation capacity and a certain percentage of the national total power generation capacity. In terms of power generation, the annual distributed photovoltaic power generation is billions of kilowatt-hours, accounting for a certain percentage of the total photovoltaic power generation.

"Whether it is cumulative installed capacity, new installed capacity, or power generation, the trend of equal emphasis and parallel development of distributed and centralized systems is very evident. Distributed photovoltaic power generation has become a significant force in the energy transition," said an official from the relevant department of the National Energy Administration.

In the year, the National Energy Administration issued the "Interim Measures for the Management of Distributed Photovoltaic Power Generation Projects" (hereinafter referred to as the "Interim Measures"). However, the old measures have become increasingly difficult to adapt to the current development of distributed photovoltaics. From the perspective of the development environment, the price of photovoltaic modules has dropped from around yuan per watt in the year to around . yuan per watt currently, and new energy sources, including distributed photovoltaic power generation, have fully entered a market-oriented development stage of parity without subsidies.

The series of regulations established around fiscal subsidies in the "Interim Measures" are no longer applicable. At the national level, mechanisms such as the responsibility weight for renewable energy power consumption and the assessment of distributed photovoltaic power generation's access to the distribution grid's capacity have been gradually established. It is necessary to institutionalize some good mechanisms and practices at both the national and local levels, and to improve management in keeping with the times.

Distributed photovoltaic power generation involves numerous points, a wide area, multiple stakeholders, and complex interest relationships. An official from the relevant department of the National Energy Administration stated that the fundamental difference between distributed photovoltaic power generation and centralized power stations lies in its development on the user side, with local consumption and utilization. The "Management Measures" adhere to this essential characteristic and requirement of distributed photovoltaic power generation in terms of definition, classification, and grid connection modes, emphasizing the proportion of self-generation and self-consumption of projects, and returning to the original essence of distributed photovoltaic power generation.

At the same time, distributed photovoltaic power generation is the form of power supply most closely connected with users. Sustainable development of distributed photovoltaic power generation can only be achieved by fully respecting the wishes of users and forming a good interaction with them. The "Management Measures" detail requirements at every stage, from leasing user rooftops, filing, development and construction, to operation, effectively safeguarding the interests of users, especially farmers, so that the development of distributed photovoltaics benefits rural farmers more and empowers rural revitalization.

In terms of record management, addressing the issue where distributed photovoltaic projects in recent years, characterized by "farmers providing rooftops and developers funding," are still registered under the names of farmers, leading to a significant imbalance in rights and responsibilities between enterprises and individuals, and posing certain financial risks and safety hazards, the "Management Measures" emphasize that "distributed photovoltaic power generation projects invested and developed by non-natural persons shall not be registered under the name of a natural person," effectively safeguarding the interests of farmers from being infringed.

The "Management Measures" also clarify that the development of distributed photovoltaic power generation should respect the wishes of building property owners. Local authorities must not control the development resources of distributed photovoltaic power generation, such as rooftops, through franchise operations. They must not restrict the equal participation of various qualified investment entities in the development and construction of distributed photovoltaic power generation. Additionally, they must not impose mandatory supporting industries or investments, or illegally collect project deposits as thresholds for project development and construction.

Please translate the following content directly into English without any explanation. Understand the meaning of the article first. Do not return any unrelated information other than the translation of the original text. The content is as follows: (From "Overseas Edition of People's Daily")