China will make 25% more solar panels in 2017 than it did last year

China's solar industry is expected to produce 25% more panels in 2017 than last year, supported by domestic sales and demand from the United States and emerging markets, the head of a Chinese industry association said.

China was expected to produce solar panels with a combined capacity of 60 gigawatts (GW) this year, said Wang Bohua, secretary general of China's photovoltaic industry association.

China produced panels with capacity of 48 GW in 2016.

Despite growing global demand, China's solar industry faced challenges ranging from possible tariffs abroad to inadequate grid connections at home, Wang told an industry gathering.

The United States has told the World Trade Organization it was considering putting emergency "safeguard" tariffs on imported solar cells, a move aimed at shielding its industry from a damaging, unforeseen surge in imports.

China's solar industry is expected to produce 25% more panels in 2017 than last year, supported by domestic sales and demand from the United States and emerging markets, the head of a Chinese industry association said.

China was expected to produce solar panels with a combined capacity of 60 gigawatts (GW) this year, said Wang Bohua, secretary general of China's photovoltaic industry association.

China produced panels with capacity of 48 GW in 2016.

Despite growing global demand, China's solar industry faced challenges ranging from possible tariffs abroad to inadequate grid connections at home, Wang told an industry gathering.

The United States has told the World Trade Organization it was considering putting emergency "safeguard" tariffs on imported solar cells, a move aimed at shielding its industry from a damaging, unforeseen surge in imports.

China had a total of 101.82 GW installed solar capacity by June, after adding 24.4 GW in the first six months of 2017, the industry association said. It will soon reach 110 GW, the target Beijing had aimed to achieved by 2020.

"In a long term, there is great potential for China's solar industry to develop, as the Paris Accord has set a firm foundation for solar power," Wang said.

He said China's Belt and Road Initiative to boost trade links through regional transport and infrastructure projects would help.