China pledged to promote healthy development for its ailing solar power industry, which is struggling with overcapacity and dropping prices, according to a statement published on the State Council’s website.<br /> <br /> The government said the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) was taking several measures to promote the healthy development of the photovoltaic industry including supporting consolidation, drafting guidelines for mergers and acquisitions and promoting standardization for solar industry.<br /> <br /> The China Photovoltaic Industry Alliance estimated that the solar industry had enjoyed a recovery in 2013. Total installed solar power generating capacity increased by around 8 GW, of which 6 GW were in power plants and 2 GW were in decentralized installations.<br /> <br /> In July of 2013, the State Council set the target of quadrupling solar power generating capacity to 35 GW by 2015 in an apparent bid to ease a glut in the domestic power industry.<br /> <br /> To implement the State Council’s directive, the MIIT was encouraging technological innovation, especially related to decentralized solar power installations not connected to the power grid, the statement said. It was also supporting research and development efforts for batteries that can store solar electricity.<br /> <br /> The MIIT also sought to improve standardization and ensure ‘orderly competition’ in the industry, it said.<br /> <br /> <p> In future the above measures will be further strengthened by the MIIT to develop China’s solar industry, according to the statement. </p> <p style="text-align:center;"> <img src="/upfiles/news/image/20140111/20140111172706_0004.jpg" alt="" /> </p>